Yesterday, the Ministry of Health officials at the Entebbe International Airport were at loggerheads with travellers for the cost of the recommended quarantine hotel. Travellers said officials were ‘forcing’ them to be quarantined at Central Inn in Entebbe charging a whopping $100 (about Shs380000) per day.
Emmanuel Ainebyona, the Spokesperson of the Health Ministry has today revealed that government has identified alternative hotels that will charge $55 (about Shs210000) per day. Ainebyona said for those who cannot afford that, the Ministry has no solution but only to send them back to wherever they came from.
“If one is not willing to go under institutional quarantine, they have two options. If they have money, they can buy a ticket and head to another destination or pay $55 at self-quarantine hotels,” Ainebyona said.
He revealed that the Ministry is very strict because they can’t risk lives of over 42 million Ugandans.
“Initially, people were evading quarantine. That is why we are enforcing the mandatory quarantine,” he said.
Ainebyona maintained that Uganda has no confirmed case yet and the Ministry is dedicated to ensure that Uganda is not infected by the virus.