By Spy Uganda
More than 40 Ugandan women, who were scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia, were removed from a plane over fake COVID-19 certificates, officials said.
READ ALSO: Ministry Of Health To Conduct Fresh Tests For Migrant Workers Over Forgery In COVID Certificates
Emmanuel Ainebyona, the spokesman for the Ugandan Health Ministry, confirmed that the certificates found with those women were fake.
Led by Prima Kalungi, the security team first got permission from the plane crew before making the arrest.
Kalungi said the women, who were on board the plane at the Entebbe International Airport, had been recruited to work as housemaids in Saudi Arabia.
In order to avoid such incidents, the Health Ministry spokesman said, all migrant workers going out of the country will have to take a new test with effect from Sunday, July 11, 2021 at midnight.​​​​​​​
READ ALSO: Uganda Airlines Issues Tough Covid-19 Guidelines For Arriving,Departing Passengers
This follows another arrest that was made a few months ago when aviation health authorities arrested 24 travellers with fake COVID-19 certificates at Entebbe International Airport.
Vianney Luggya, communications officer of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, revealed that the passengers were arrested after presenting forged Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificates while checking in at the airport to depart to different destinations.
“They were identified to have tampered with their PCR certificates. They have been handed to the aviation police to investigate the circumstances under which they obtained these forged certificates, with the view of charging them for any offenses they may have violated,” said Luggya.
“We urge the public to desist from attempting to forge PCR test certificates because there is a clear mechanism in place at the airport to verify whether the certificate is genuine or fake,” he said.
