On any safari in Uganda, it’s recommended that tourists don’t forget their travel documents. It’s not that Uganda is a risky destination, but rather for added safety. Yellow fever vaccination in Uganda is mandatory, and you ought to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate to be granted entry into the country.
For the world wanderlusts who always pack their documents first in their travel pack, while first-time travelers often face a daunting situation choosing what to pack and what not to pack. Whether it’s your first time or not, Ugandan law requires you to have specific documents.
To this end, most tourists think of a valid passport, a driving license if they plan to self-drive, air tickets, and visas. But obtaining a Ugandan visa also requires any traveler to possess a recent yellow fever vaccination certificate that verifies they are protected from contracting the deadly yellow fever virus, common in sub-Saharan Africa.
Since Angola experienced a yellow fever outbreak, other African countries started implementing the yellow fever vaccination certificate as an entry requirement. No tourist is allowed to enter Uganda without a valid yellow card or being immunized at the entry point, like Entebbe International Airport, at their own cost.
The yellow fever vaccination works best if administered in the home country before coming to Uganda since it doesn’t take effect until ten days later. This means that the tourist will be in the country for ten days without protection.
Even though there have not been recent reported cases of yellow fever outbreaks in Uganda, the country is yellow fever-free and aims to keep it that way. This supports the yellow card entry requirement for Uganda.
Only pregnant women, babies, and HIV/AIDS patients with a CD4 count below 200 are exempted and cleared by the travel authorities without yellow cards. Elderly visitors above the age of 69 years and those allergic are also exempted from this requirement.
This measure is taken to prevent the importation of the virus, as seen in some countries, in order to protect the health of residents and visitors alike. The World Health Organization describes yellow fever as a very dangerous hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Major signs and symptoms include headache, fever, shivering, loss of appetite, muscle pain, and vomiting.
Travelers to Uganda are always advised to carry insect repellents to avoid mosquito bites. Clients can also wear long trousers and shirts, sleep under mosquito nets, and use other personal methods to repel mosquitoes.
Note that Uganda is a popular tourist destination with almost all the beauties that world travelers seek out. Think of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, the tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Victoria – Africa’s largest freshwater lake, the primate capital of the world – Kibale Forest National Park, and several other amazing features, including the kind and hospitable people. A yellow card should not deter any tourist from exploring the beauty that nature has placed in the Pearl of Africa. Book your dates soon and visit Uganda.
