The government of Uganda has decided to suspend mandatory Covid-19 tests at the border with Kenya after this measure caused huge truck queues, which disrupted fuel supplies across the country.
Authorities had mandated truck drivers entering the country to submit themselves for COVID-19 testing at the at the Malaba and Busia borders, Uganda shares with Kenya.
However, the directive created a logjam with fuel tankers stuck at the borders. This also led to fuel scarcity and a hike in fuel prices which caused panic buying in the 45.74 million-strong country.
On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, an official of the Ugandan Ministry of Health said the ministry has immediately and temporarily suspended mandatory testing at the two border points to ease movement of trucks into and within the country and also avert a “potential super-spreader” event at the border.
In late December, truckers protested Uganda’s Covid-19 testing fee, which caused border delays.
It was scrapped later, but delays remained due to slow customs clearances and testing.
