By Hannatu Sadiq
The United Kingdom, UK, has added Uganda to the “red list” nations from where travellers will not be allowed entry into its territory.
The travel restriction which is effective from June 30, comes amidst rising coronavirus cases and fast-spreading variants of the virus.
Uganda has until now been on the amber list for travel to the UK. But now only residents and returning nationals will be allowed in from Wednesday.
Uganda is battling its second wave of the pandemic and positive cases and deaths have been rising sharply since late May.
More than 1,200 positive cases were recorded on Tuesday – and more than 75,000 people have been infected since the pandemic began.
The East African country is currently on a 45-day lockdown; A 19:00 to 05:30 local time curfew is in place, schools remain closed, passenger public and private transport is banned and some businesses are not allowed to operate.
The country’s international borders, including the main airport, remain open to travellers with a valid negative Covid PCR test with the exception of arrivals from India.
President Yoweri Museveni declared Friday a public holiday and a day of national prayers for the country to pray for frontline health workers and families who have lost their loved ones to coronavirus.
