Kampala, Uganda: The Ugandan passport has made a significant leap in global mobility, climbing to the 71st position in the latest Henley Passport Index, a notable rise from 73rd in 2024 and a 10-slot jump since 2021.
The improved ranking grants Ugandan passport holders visa-free access to 67 countries, opening up more travel, business, and study opportunities across the globe.
The index, which ranks world passports based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), now places Uganda alongside six other countries at the 71st position. However, Uganda still trails behind Kenya and Tanzania, ranked 69th and 70th, respectively.
According to the report, Ugandans can now travel visa-free to destinations such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Mauritius, while also enjoying visa-on-arrival privileges in countries like the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. This development reflects an ongoing evolution in Uganda’s diplomatic relations and global perception.
While Uganda’s rise is laudable, the Henley Passport Index also highlights the vast inequalities in global mobility. Countries such as Afghanistan and Syria continue to rank at the bottom of the index, with limited travel access due to geopolitical instability and weak bilateral agreements.
Uganda’s improved ranking comes amid a broader continental shift, as African nations continue to negotiate visa waivers and foster diplomatic relations to increase passport strength.
For Ugandan travelers and entrepreneurs, this progression symbolizes a step toward deeper international engagement, economic opportunity, and cultural exchange.
The 67 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations that Ugandan passport holders can travel to, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, include; Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands (visa on arrival), Cambodia (visa on arrival), Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia (visa on arrival), Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau (visa on arrival), Haiti, Hong Kong (SAR China), and Iran (visa on arrival).
Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia (visa on arrival), Nepal (visa on arrival), Nicaragua (visa on arrival), Niue, Palau Islands (visa on arrival), Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone (visa on arrival), Singapore, Somalia (visa on arrival), South Sudan (visa on arrival), Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia (visa on arrival), St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tanzania, The Gambia, Timor-Leste (visa on arrival), Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
As global travel rebounds in the post-pandemic era, Uganda’s enhanced standing in the index may also spur the government to pursue more bilateral visa-free agreements, further expanding the reach of its citizens.
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