No visa ban on Ugandans, says UAE envoy
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) envoy to Uganda has refuted media reports claiming that his country has imposed a visa ban on Ugandan nationals. In a phone interview with New Vision, Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi, the head of mission and UAE ambassador to Uganda, said there has been no official communication regarding such a ban.
“What is circulating out there is false,” AlShamsi said yesterday evening.
His clarification follows reports suggesting that the UAE – a popular destination for Ugandans seeking employment opportunities – had imposed a visa ban starting January 2026.
Currently, over 100,000 Ugandan migrant workers are legally employed in the UAE, primarily in menial jobs.
The UAE, which shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia, is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
The ambassador’s remarks come amid widespread online reports alleging a suspension of tourist and work visas for citizens of several countries, including Uganda, Libya, Yemen, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Sudan, and Somalia.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagire, also confirmed that the Government has not received any formal notification from the UAE regarding changes in visa policy for Ugandans.
“The source of that information is not an official UAE government website. Additionally, authorities in Abu Dhabi and the UAE embassy in Kampala have not communicated any visa freeze on Ugandans,” Bagire said.
However, he noted that the UAE does enforce restrictions on applicants who do not meet visa qualifications.
PREVIOUS BANS
The UAE has, in the past, imposed temporary restrictions on visa issuance to Ugandans. In 2022, it suspended the issuance of 30-day visit visas to Ugandans and citizens from 20 other countries.
While no official reason was provided for that decision, sources indicated it aimed to curb visa overstays by individuals who had abused visit privileges.
RECENT CONCERNS
A recent BBC investigation uncovered a disturbing case involving Charles Mwesigwa, a Ugandan national allegedly running a sexual exploitation ring involving Ugandan women in Dubai.
The investigation revealed that Mwesigwa told a BBC undercover reporter that he could provide women for sex parties at a minimum fee of $1,000 (approx. sh3.5m), adding that many of the women were willing to do “pretty much everything” clients requested.
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