The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a clarification on visa-free travel arrangements and passport categories for Ugandans, amid growing public interest and confusion about travel requirements.
Addressing the media, Citizenship and Immigration spokesperson Simon Mundeyi provided detailed explanations on how visa-free travel works and who qualifies.
“Visa-free countries means that a Ugandan can travel without paying for a visa before departure,” Mundeyi said. “However, you must have a return air ticket and a confirmed hotel booking. These two are compulsory.”
He emphasized that visa-free travel applies to holders of Ugandan passports and does not mean automatic entry without conditions.
“At the airport, you must present a passport with at least six months’ validity. You are then stamped and given the number of days you can stay, usually between one week and 90 days,” Mundeyi explained.
Countries where Ugandan passport holders do not need to apply for a visa include Malaysia, the Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Eswatini, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Mundeyi also clarified that visa-free entry to the United Arab Emirates and South Africa currently applies only to holders of diplomatic and official passports.
“If you hold a diplomatic or official passport, you do not have to apply for a visa to travel to those countries,” he said.
On regional travel, Mundeyi noted that under the tripartite agreement between Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, Ugandans can travel to Kenya and Rwanda using only a national ID.
“National ID acts as a travel document whether you are flying or driving,” he said.
Regarding passports, Mundeyi explained that Uganda has five types of passports, including the ordinary blue passport available to all qualifying citizens.
“The ordinary passport costs Shs250,000,” he said. “If you choose express, the system generates two payment registration numbers — one for Shs250,000 and another for Shs150,000 for the express service.”
He added that the express passport takes two to three working days, counting after fingerprint capture at the immigration office, and urged applicants to book appointments online before visiting passport offices.
