On June 18, 2025, a special handover ceremony took place at the VIP Lounge of Entebbe International Airport. The Director of Airports and Aviation Security, Eng. Ayub Sooma, officially received four new thermal scanners to help detect health threats at the airport. The donation was made by Mr. Sanusi Tejani Savage, Chief of Mission at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding support from USAID and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Dr. Allan Muruta, Commissioner for Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Public Health Emergencies at the Ministry of Health, handed over the signed donation acceptance form during the event. The thermal scanners are a timely addition to Uganda’s public health efforts, especially in the face of global health threats and potential disease outbreaks.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Barungi, General Manager of Entebbe International Airport, the scanners will be placed at both the arrival and departure sections of the passenger terminal, as well as the VIP lounge. These scanners are designed to detect passengers who may have high body temperatures—a common sign of illness. This will help health officials respond quickly and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
The donation marks another step forward in strengthening Uganda’s airport health systems. It also shows the strong partnership between Uganda and international organizations like IOM, USAID, and JICA in improving the country’s readiness for public health emergencies.
With more travelers passing through Entebbe Airport every year, this new technology will help protect passengers, staff, and the entire country from serious health risks.
