EU explains travel restrictions for Ugandans, dismisses fake news
Jul 02, 2020
On Tuesday, the European Council agreed to lift travel restrictions on 15 countries including Algeria, Morocco, Rwanda and Tunisia from the African continent.
EU | UGANDA | RELATIONS
The European Union (EU) in Uganda has dismissed claims circulating on social media that its ambassador wrote a report to the European Council accusing authorities of corruption and casting doubt on the authenticity of its Covid-19 data.
This follows the exclusion of Uganda from the official list of countries that the Council of the European Union has opened its borders to.
"While it is true that Uganda is not on the list of countries whose nationals can now travel to the European Union countries for non-essential reasons, the decision was not in any way influenced by the ambassador," clarified Emmanuel Davies Gyezaho, the press advisor for the EU in Uganda.
"The ambassador has not authored any report accusing the Ugandan government of corruption or questioning the credibility of the country's Coronavirus data. Such claims are absolutely false."
A press release by the Council of the European Union, with a link to the recommendation, can be found here: https://t.co/Jmx5OiyO7F. The list of countries benefiting by the gradual lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions will be updated every two weeks.
— EU in Uganda (@EUinUG) July 2, 2020
Gyezaho added that he was not aware of an original or temporary list that included Uganda on countries to benefit from eased travel restrictions.
On Tuesday, the European Council agreed to lift travel restrictions on 15 countries including Algeria, Morocco, Rwanda and Tunisia from the African continent.
The Council explained in a statement that the criteria to determine these countries took into account the epidemiological situation, containment measures, ‘as well as social and economic considerations'.
While Gyezaho could not share specific reasons why Uganda was not included on the list, other factors like the country's continued border closure could have come into play. Uganda's borders have been closed to passengers and non-essential travel since March 23, as part of measures to contain the coronavirus.
"Reciprocity should also be taken into account regularly and on a case-by-case basis," reads part of the EU press release on the eased restrictions.
Gyezaho was also quick to highlight that essential travel from Uganda to the European Union is still ongoing, which includes diplomats, government officials and persons with special invitations.
Our efforts to reach Uganda's foreign ministry were not successful by press time.
Report by Daniel Mumbere