The impact of COVID-19 is still being felt the world over. While most strict lockdown conditions have been relaxed, many of you are experiencing a third (and even fourth) wave of viral spread. Daily habits are simply not what they used to be.
Face masking and social distancing has become our new normal. Vaccine programs are successful in the global north. (The global south is doing what it can.)
As of August 2, 2022 there are 169,396 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Uganda. We’ve had about 800 new cases each month for the last 4 months. The cases are largely found in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. Our government tests approximately 2,000 people each day. We have registered 3,628 deaths (with only 1 in the past month) and have vaccinated 24,859,885 people (adding 2 million last month). We are managing Omicron and its variants.
Our overall case numbers have remained extremely low when compared with the wider world as our borders were closed to passenger travel from March to October, 2020. Since then, it has been up to Ugandans themselves to limit the spread of this virus within Uganda. Hand washing, face masking, and social distancing are highly encouraged and even mandated in many enclosed places.
The government of Uganda is also doing its part to limit the number of cases coming from abroad:
As of March 2022, all incoming travelers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or show a negative PCR test (with the sample taken within the previous 72 hours) on arrival at Entebbe International Airport or any land border. This has proven to be an effective way to keep the virus from freely entering Uganda. All outgoing travelers must show their vaccination status or provide a negative PCR test (with the sample taken within the previous 72 hours) in order to leave Uganda.
With current daily case numbers so low, there is little community transmission of COVID-19. Government of Uganda has lifted all restrictions for Ugandans. Schools, bars, churches, etc are now (FINALLY) fully open. Our 2 year, 7pm curfew is lifted. Everyone in Uganda is free to move about, do business, get educated, and dance the night away!
The Real Uganda has also fully re-opened its programs and has so far hosted 14 volunteers in 2022. Our staff and community members are pleased to be back to work, showing off the successes and challenges of life in Uganda. Please check out what our current volunteers are doing on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Real Uganda offers 2 – 12 week locally-led communty-based volunteer programs.
Check out this review of how our government handled the coronavirus pandemic:
On March 20, 2020 our President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, closed all schools and religious services, and banned public and cultural gatherings. Mass weddings and funerals were disallowed.
On March 22, 2020 Uganda’s airport and all land borders were closed to passenger travel.
On March 25, 2020 all public transportation, including buses, taxis, trains, and boda bodas, was halted. Further, only food items were allowed to be sold in the markets. This was meant to aid in social distancing, which our president re-named “anti-social distancing”.
On March 30, 2020 all private passenger travel was banned. Only government, army, police and other essential personnel were allowed to use private vehicles. Regular Ugandans walked or cycled to the market and or pharmacies. Permission to use private vehicles for emergencies (child birth, medical emergencies) was individually sought through District governments. This was meant to stop people from illegally offering their private vehicles as public transport and to stop all upcountry travel (and possible viral spread).
On April 1, 2020 all shops except those selling food and medicine were closed. Factories remained open if employers provided camp-style accommodation for their employees. Market vendors continued if they agreed to sleep at work. There was to be no movement or mixing of people.
On April 1, 2020 Uganda was placed under a 7pm to 6:30am curfew. No movement of people. Cargo and essential workers were exempt from this.
On April 8, 2020 boda boda and bicycle riders were banned from operating after 2pm.
On May 5, 2020 boda boda and bicycle riders were allowed to operate until 5pm. Some business closures were eased, such as insurance companies and auto garages.
On May 26, 2020 private passenger vehicles were allowed to move with no more than 3 people inside. All passengers were to wear face masks. The 7pm curfew remained in effect.
On June 4, 2020 public passenger vehicles (buses and taxis) were allowed to move with half capacity. All passengers to sanitize hands before entering and wear a face mask throughout their journey.
On June 22, 2020 private vehicles were allowed to carry up to 4 people, including the driver.
On June 24, 2020 repatriation flights for diaspora Ugandans began landing at Entebbe International Airport. Ugandans living in Sudan, Southern Africa, Afghanistan, United States were among the first to land. They underwent 2 weeks of mandatory institutional quarantine before being allowed to re-enter society.
On July 22, 2020 the daily curfew was relaxed slightly. We were to be home between 9pm and 5am.
On July 27, 2020 bodaboda riders were again able to transport people. Everyone was to wear masks and the drivers were to keep a log of their clients in order to facilitate contact tracing.
On September 27, 2020 churches were allowed to open with up to 70 worshippers per service.
On October 15, 2020 schools re-opened to the limited number of students in their final year of studies. No student or teacher is allowed to use public transportation to reach school.
The emergence of the Delta variant in 2021 caused further rolling lockdowns that barred all motorized transportation and community gatherings. These have all been relaxed as of February 2022.
Many Ugandans found it extremely hard to survive under the above corona virus restrictions. While it’s nice to be able to wash hands so often, urban dwellers who depend on daily earnings care more about feeding and educating their families. We are thankful that rural areas have avoided mass sickness throughout the pandemic. Please spare a thought for the thousands of Ugandan school children who haven’t been able to return to formal classroom education after the extended closure.
RELATED: In order to survive, Ugandans have always been innovative and motivated!
This page is being updated periodically – It is up to date as of August 2, 2022.
For timely updates on what’s happening in Uganda regarding the pandemic, please follow our Ministry of Health on twitter: @MinofHealthUG. Why not follow me too? @therealuganda.
The Real Uganda’s COVID-19 Response brings practicals skills training to young rural women in Uganda
While Uganda’s economy has been hit hard by this pandemic, our government’s strict directives have kept Uganda a safe travel destination.
Let’s start planning the remainder of 2022 and 2023 together! Fill in the box below and we’ll send you information to get you excited about volunteering in Uganda.
Now go wash your hands and get vaccinated (and wear your mask properly)!
Am CBO coordinator located in Namawojjolo mama sub county can’t I be helped to get some volunteers to work with in some of our projects
Thanks in hope to hear from you soon.
Please contact us at [email protected] to see how our objectives match. Thanks!