Uganda Mandates Online Health Declaration for All Arrivals From 25 October
Updated: 34 minutes ago
KAMPALA, 31 October 2026 — Uganda has made an electronic health declaration compulsory for every person entering the country, regardless of nationality, mode of transport or official status, as authorities tighten border surveillance against Ebola.
The requirement was reiterated in an official statement from the Ministry of Health on 25 October 2026. It applies to arrivals by air, land and water — and explicitly includes diplomats and United Nations personnel, who are granted no exemption.
The declaration is filed through the Ministry of Health’s Passenger Locator Form portal.
What the Declaration Requires
The form is completed online within 72 hours before arrival and takes approximately two minutes. No account creation is necessary.
It is structured in four parts:
Travel details. Point of entry — Entebbe, Kisoro, Soroti, Kasese, Gulu, Arua or an “Other” option — arrival date, purpose of travel, intended duration, country of journey origin, countries visited in the previous 21 days, flight or vehicle number, and accommodation address in Uganda.
Personal information. Full name as shown on the passport, age, sex, nationality, passport or national identity card number, and a reachable telephone number during the stay. Emergency contact details are optional.
Health questionnaire. Symptoms experienced in the previous 14 days, including fever, cough, vomiting or bleeding. Where symptoms are reported, the form allows specification from a list covering headaches, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, severe fatigue and skin rashes.
Exposure history. Close contact with someone who had fever, bleeding or died suddenly; attendance at a funeral or participation in preparing a body for burial; work or visitation at a health facility in an Ebola-affected area; and handling of bats, primates or bushmeat during the previous 21 days.
A separate departure declaration is available on the same portal, though the 25 October statement focused primarily on the entry requirement.
Border Screening Continues Regardless
Completing the online form does not exempt travellers from physical screening on arrival.
The Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance at Entebbe International Airport and all land border crossings, with additional checks at selected roadside points. Screening includes health assessment and temperature checks, and applies without exception.
At Entebbe, hygiene measures have been strengthened: baggage inspection trays are disinfected, and passengers must sanitise their hands before and after presenting their passports at check-in, immigration and other inspection points.
Travellers presenting symptoms consistent with a suspected case may be directed to a designated area for medical evaluation and testing.
Restrictions Specific to DRC Travel History
Uganda maintains separate and stricter measures for anyone with recent travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Ebola transmission continues.
Category | Restriction |
Congolese nationals | Non-essential travel to Uganda may result in return to the DRC at the traveller’s expense |
Ugandan nationals | Returning from the DRC must complete 21-day quarantine at their own cost |
All travellers with DRC history | Barred from transiting through Uganda, including on charter flights |
Contacts of active cases | May be placed on a no-fly list until 21-day monitoring concludes |
The transit ban is particularly relevant for itineraries involving multiple Central or East African countries. The government statement does not specify how far back a DRC visit triggers the restriction — a gap that leaves uncertainty for travellers with older travel history.
Regional Context
Uganda’s measures sit within a wider regional tightening.
Tanzania has required an online health declaration for all travellers entering the mainland since 17 October 2026, via the Afyamsafiri platform.
The United States will require, from 3 November 2026, a signed attestation from every air passenger confirming they have not been in the DRC during the 21 days before boarding a flight to the US.
Uganda itself reported no active Ebola cases as of 25 October 2026, having declared its Bundibugyo virus outbreak over on 28 July 2026 following 42 days without a new case. Border vigilance is maintained because of continuing transmission in the DRC.
What the Health Declaration Does Not Replace
The health form is separate from immigration and visa formalities.
Foreign nationals who require a visa must still obtain one through the standard channels, including Uganda’s e-Visa portal. The health declaration is an additional requirement, not a substitute.
It also sits independently of the recent removal of the yellow fever vaccination certificate requirement for entry, which took effect in early October 2026.
Practical Guidance for Travellers and Employers
File within 72 hours of arrival. The window opens three days before departure and closes on arrival. Earlier submissions are not accepted.
Do not assume diplomatic or UN status exempts you. The Ministry has stated explicitly that there are no exemptions.
Check DRC history against the transit ban. Anyone who has been in the DRC — however briefly — should verify their eligibility before booking an itinerary that routes through Uganda. The lookback period is not defined in the published statement.
Carry proof of the declaration. The form generates a submission confirmation. Having it accessible on arrival reduces friction at screening points.
Brief mobile staff. Employers with staff moving through the region should ensure the requirement is built into travel checklists, alongside visa and vaccination documentation.
Watch for further updates. The DRC transit ban and the 21-day quarantine rules are recent and may be adjusted as the regional outbreak situation evolves.
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Quick Reference Summary
Item | Detail |
Requirement | Online health declaration (Passenger Locator Form) |
Effective | Reiterated 25 October 2026 |
Portal | |
Submission Window | 72 hours before arrival |
Completion Time | Approximately 2 minutes |
Account Required | No |
Exemptions | None — including diplomats and UN personnel |
Border Screening | Still required on arrival |
DRC Transit | Barred for anyone with recent DRC travel history |
Ugandan Returnees from DRC | 21-day quarantine at own expense |
Uganda Ebola Status | No active cases as of 25 October 2026 |
Visa Requirement | Separate; still applies where relevant |
For the latest immigration updates, visit: visasupdate.com/news
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