Up to today, the 18th of March, 2020, Uganda, by the mercy of God, has been spared by not having even one case confirmed of the coronavirus. There has been many false alarms that our laboratories have proved false. Prevention is better than cure.
President Museveni of Uganda.
Kwezi Outdoors – Media Release on Government COVID19 Updates
KAMPALA
Even though Uganda does not have a single case of the #coronavirus (#COVID), the Government of Uganda has decided to take action to keep it that way. President Yoweri Museveni has banned international travel in and out of the country to specific regions with immediate effect. Conferences, large meetings, religious and social gatherings and also banned.
All educations institutions are to be closed by 12 noon Friday 20 March 2020. Over 15 million learners are affected.
President Yoweri Museveni, in his address to the nation address on Wednesday 18 March 2020, has put out the measures the Government of Uganda is taking to keep the corona virus out of Uganda, and if it comes, to contain it. Currently Uganda is the only country in East Africa without a single case of coronavirus infection.
To maintain that status, President Museveni has directed that:
- Government of Uganda, with immediate effect, has banned all outbound travel by Uganda to countries under the pandemic category one status. These countries are: Italy, France, South Korea, China, USA, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Norway Austria, Malaysia, Pakistan and San Marino. The ban is effective for 32 days.
Foreigners can still travel to those nations as long as they stay there for till the end of the ban.
In effecting the ban, President Museveni has also extends Uganda’s sympathies to those countries and commends them for fighting on the behalf of the human race. - Ugandans abroad, even in the above listed countries, are welcome back home. Government, however, advises that if they can, they stay there till the end of the 32 days ban. However, if one so chooses to travel to Uganda (national or foreigner), they will be put in a mandatory quarantine in a designated place but they will pay the cost for their institutional quarantine ─ food, etc.
- All places of worship, meetings, conferences, cultural events, entertainment and big social gatherings are banned for a period of 32 days. This is with immediate effect.
- Hotels and other tourist accommodation will continue operation under standard operating guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health. These include: compulsory hand-washing by all persons who enter or exit those work places, anybody with symptoms of flu, fever, coughing or any other #coronavirus – like symptoms is not to be allowed access for any reason. All facilities shall also provide temperature monitors for all persons accessing their facility.
- Domestic travel will continue under similar guidelines. However, nationals have been discouraged to travel unless really necessary. This is especially so for public transportation.
- All education institutions are to be closed from 12 noon Friday 2020. This will be for an initial 30 days. There are almost 15 million (37.5% of the population) learners in Uganda’s education institutions.
On Saturday 21st March, President Museveni together with the heads of the different faiths is to hold National Prayers at State House in Entebbe. Only heads of the different faiths will attend. The rest of the nation shall participate using the different media available to them – radio, TV, internet among others.
Kwezi Outdoors Policy
As a Uganda tour operator our utmost priority is the health, safety and security of our guests and staff. Kwezi Outdoors is handling the issue based on our company’s procedures and policies. We continue to monitor the news and statements from various organizations, such as WHO, CDC and the Uganda Government Ministry of Health. We continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health and all public health professionals on the latest updates on this global situation.
As Kwezi Outdoors Ltd, we urge all our guests and travelers to consider the following safety information and preventive measures that we have adopted as laid out here in line with our company procedures and policies. Please read / access the full health advisory here or copy and paste the url in your browser: (https://kwezioutdoors.com/blog/index.php/2020/02/12/kwezi-outdoors-safety-advisory-on-coronavirus-covid-19/).
Kwezi Outdoors is suspending all inbound safaris for the duration of the Government ban (32 days). Thank you for understanding and supporting us.
#LightUp #TogetherWeStand #TogetherWeOvercome #YouAreNotAlone
Download President Yoweri Museveni full address to nation (PDF opens in new tab)
Download copy of Kwezi Outdoors press release (PDF)
Follow updates from:
- Ministry of Health (Uganda) (www.health.go.ug ) Toll free 0800203033
- World Health Organisation (www.who.int )
Vincent Mugaba | Kwezi Outdoors Ltd | travel.connect.discover
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