FILE PHOTO: No more flights from Entebbe to Dubai. FUFA calls off trip to Dubai after flights from Uganda put on red list Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Federation of Uganda’s Football Associations (FUFA) has called off the Uganda Cranes’ trip to the United Arab Emirates. The team was slated to travel tomorrow 29th December 2021.
This follows today’s decision by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to suspended flights from Uganda to Dubai until further notice. Flights from Entebbe were also suspended in June due to the surge of COVID-19 cases and many passengers testing positive for the virus on arrival in Dubai.
According to a tweet from Uganda Civil Authority- UCAA, “passengers planning to travel to Dubai are now advised to contact their respective airlines for guidance on any changes in the restrictions.” However, “incoming Emirates flights from Dubai are still operational,” UCAA states.
The move has thereby thrown business people and Uganda’s over 200 labour ‘externalization’ companies in crisis as most of their clients who take in Ugandan workers are in the Middle East to which Dubai airport in the UAE is the key gateway.
Dubai is one of the top four routes from Entebbe International Airport, with an average of 17 flights a week. These flights are operated by Uganda Airlines, Emirates, Fly Dubai, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
Health sources at Entebbe Airport say they are not surprised that Uganda has been added to the red list. ” The number of COVID-19 cases are rising in Uganda and also passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival in Dubai have been increasing,” said a source.
Another source said that while UAE required passengers from Uganda to have two COVID-19 tests done prior to their departure flight, some of them were forging the test results.
FUFA statement
Ahmed Hussein, The FUFA Communications Director confirmed the Cranes’ trip was off because of what he described as flight challenges.
“Logistically the time available for the arrangement of an alternative flight is not enough for the contingent to fly into UAE,” said Hussein.
Uganda Cranes was due to play two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 bound teams Gabon and Mauritania in international friendly matches. The first game against Gabon was slated for December 30th, while the second game against Mauritania was slated for 1st January 2022 in Abu Dhabi. What next? Following the announcement, all the airlines have told their clients that they […]