KAMPALA: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday, October 22, officially launched the COVID-19 laboratories to be used for mandatory Covid-19 testing of all incoming passengers at Entebbe International Airport.
Speaking at the launch, the President commended all the stakeholders who played a role in making it possible.
The Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, thanked the President and Cabinet for the financial support to the various participating agencies to enable them install the testing facilities at the airport.
He said the new laboratories will improve passenger experience in light of the fact that all the testing processes would be completed at the airport.
The Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, had earlier on cited the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Works and Transport, the Army Brigade and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority as having played leading roles.
The function was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Lukiya Nakadama; the Minister in charge of General Duties, Ms Justine Lumumba; the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng; and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Matia Kasaija, among other dignitaries.
Ms Nabbanja had earlier informed stakeholders at meeting held on Thursday, October 21, 2021 that the measure is intended to curb further importation of the deadly variants of the coronavirus into the country.
It is also to abet further spread of the disease and guard against the third wave. The country has previously been testing only passengers from high-risk countries.
The Ministry of Health set up the testing laboratories at the airport and trained laboratory technicians, data entrants and all the other port-health staff to manage the process. The turnaround time for the mandatory COVID-19 test results will be reduced from four hours to two hours and fifteen minutes.
Five PCR test machines with capacity to test 300 samples per hour are in place at Entebbe International Airport. The facility has the capacity to test 3,600 passengers in 12 hours and 7,200 passengers in 24 hours.
Government reduced the cost of a COVID-19 test from 65 US Dollars to 30 US Dollars. The transfer of testing laboratories from Peniel Beach where private laboratories were operating to Entebbe International Airport under government was intended to improve on the passenger facilitation process to ensure efficient service delivery.