Uganda Announces Visa — Free Entry for 40 Countries, Excludes US and EU. Kampala, Uganda — March 12, 2026 Lead Paragraph: Uganda has introduced a new visa policy allowing nationals from 40 countries to enter the country without a visa.
The move excludes the United States and European Union nations from the visa — free list.
According to the Ugandan government, travelers from these countries can stay for up to three months for tourism or business purposes.
The African countries included in the visa — free entry list are Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Seychelles, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Comoros, Eritrea, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Eswatini. Other countries will still need to apply for a visa and wait for approval.
The Ugandan government stated on its official X page that the new decision aims to facilitate travel and reflects the country’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation, tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties. Among the non-African countries allowed to enter Uganda without a visa are Ireland, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and the Hong Kong SAR.
The United States, European Union countries, and the United Kingdom have not been granted visa — free entry to Uganda.
Uganda has also reduced the number of countries whose nationals can obtain diplomatic travel documents.
The countries now concerned are Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Turkey (for diplomats only), Venezuela, and Vietnam.
The new visa policy is expected to impact tourism and business relations between Uganda and the excluded countries.
Further details regarding the implementation of the policy and its long — term effects are expected to be released in the coming days.
