KAMPALA, UGANDA: Government has announced that it has reduced the cost of COVID-19 testing costs from USD65 to USD30 for all passengers arriving in the country in a move to reduce the exorbitant costs that private clinics were charging to exploit the incoming travellers.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said the PCR tests for all arriving passengers shall be carried out by Government, and not private laboratories as it has been.
“It was agreed that the PCR tests for all arriving passengers shall be carried out by the Government, and not the private laboratories that are currently doing the testing. The passengers will pay a recovery cost of 30 USD instead of 65 USD being paid today,” said Baryomunsi.
The cost, he said, will be paid through a Bank at the Airport further clarifying that the arrangement to shift from private laboratories to a government laboratory shall be made within one week.
He added that similar arrangements are being organized at the land border points.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also agreed that all travellers entering the country will undergo a mandatory sample removal for testing COVID-19.
However, passengers with tourist visas will have their samples taken but will be permitted to proceed to their respective Hotels as they wait for the processing of their results.
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