Uganda Opens Borders For Ugandans Stranded In EAC

By Nsujo Erica

Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that they have opened borders for Ugandans stuck in the East African Community (EAC) countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan, and Burundi to return home.

Previous since March, in the wake to combat the spread of COVID-19, the Ugandan government closed all borders and only cargo trucks were allowed into the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has however been repatriating Ugandan citizens stranded in foreign countries since June but Ugandans stranded in East African countries hadn’t been repatriated or given a chance to return just yet.

According to Foreign Affairs minister, Mr. Okello Oryem, Ugandans should, however, first get clearance from Uganda’s High Commissions in those countries and present a Covid-19 certificate before accessing Uganda.

“Ugandans, who want to return by road from the EAC should possess a Covid-9 test certificate not longer than a week and must get permission from our embassies. When they reach the border points, they are supposed to be subjected to another Covid test before being driven to quarantine centers of their choice,” Mr. Oryem said.

All Ugandan citizens intending to travel by road and cannot afford airline tickets should hire individual vehicles from the countries they are coming from because they cannot return in groups according to MOH.

The Ugandan government has also started arranging airplanes for Ugandans stuck in Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan for those who can afford the ticket fares.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to repatriate a total of 2,392 following numerous discussions by Parliament and Cabinet of returnees, who said Ugandans were suffering after losing their jobs in foreign countries.

According to Uganda’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Stranded Ugandans are supposed to be repatriated after every two weeks due to the limited quarantine space provided by the Ministry of Health.