Uganda, South Africa in final stages for Visa waiver agreement

By Ariiho Kevin

Uganda and South Africa are in advanced discussions over a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at waiving visa requirements and easing travel restrictions between the two nations.

The high-level negotiations involve officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the South African High Commission in Uganda, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The proposal, initially tabled by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2023, seeks to promote free trade across the continent. Many Ugandan investors have long decried the cumbersome visa application process, arguing that it hinders business expansion. The ongoing discussions are seen as a crucial step toward eliminating this challenge.

The Ugandan business community has played a significant role in advocating for the visa waiver. In May 2023, a Joint Permanent Commission meeting held in Kampala laid out a roadmap with a target to allow Ugandans holding both ordinary and diplomatic passports to obtain visas on arrival in South Africa by the end of 2025.

Currently, South Africa grants visa exemptions only to passport holders from select countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and certain British territories. If the negotiations are successful, Uganda is expected to join this list.

Statistics indicate that over 950 Ugandans traveled to South Africa in 2024, accounting for 8.6% of the country’s annual tourist visa arrivals.

Additionally, more than 500,000 Ugandans are estimated to reside in South Africa, with the majority engaged in business and academic pursuits. However, the exact figure remains difficult to verify due to human trafficking syndicates smuggling undocumented Ugandan migrants into the country.

The Ugandan government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering free trade and economic integration across Africa, with visa waiver programs among the key strategies to enhance cross-border business opportunities.