KAMPALA, 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.

Emmanuel Ainebyona, 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 house maids 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 Monday.​​​​​​​