Uganda Grants Visa-Free Entry to Kenya, 39 Other Countries, to Boost Tourism and Trade

Uganda has introduced a new visa-free entry regime covering citizens from 40 countries and territories, including Kenya and 20 other African nations, in a move aimed at boosting tourism, trade, and regional mobility across the continent.

The policy, announced by the Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs and implemented by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, allows eligible travellers to enter Uganda without obtaining a visa in advance and remain in the country for up to three months for tourism or business purposes.

Officials say the measure reflects Uganda’s broader effort to strengthen economic integration in Africa and position the country as a more accessible destination for travellers, investors, and entrepreneurs.

The new visa-free framework includes 21 African nations and 19 countries or territories from outside the continent.

21 African countries granted visa-free access

The policy significantly expands mobility within Africa by allowing citizens from several regions to travel to Uganda without bureaucratic hurdles.

The African countries granted visa-free entry are Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

For East African nations in particular, the policy builds on existing integration frameworks under the East African Community.

Citizens of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan already benefit from relatively liberal movement arrangements within the bloc, often travelling with national identity cards rather than passports.

Kenyan travellers are expected to benefit significantly from the new arrangement, given the high level of cross-border trade and movement between the two countries.

The visa waiver simplifies travel for tourists, traders, and professionals moving between the two economies, potentially strengthening commercial ties and people-to-people exchanges.

19 other countries also included

In addition to the African nations, Uganda has extended visa-free access to several countries and territories across the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

These include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong SAR.

Travellers from these jurisdictions will also be able to enter Uganda without applying for a visa beforehand, provided they meet standard entry requirements such as holding a valid passport.

Notably, citizens from the United States, the United Kingdom, and most European Union countries are not part of the visa-free list and will still be required to apply for entry visas.

Africa’s push toward borderless travel

Uganda’s decision reflects a growing trend across Africa as governments adopt more liberal visa policies to encourage tourism, trade, and cross-border investment.

In recent years, several African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, and Ghana, have introduced visa-free entry schemes or simplified electronic travel authorisation systems to make travel easier across the continent.

Analysts say these initiatives are part of a broader push to remove barriers to movement in Africa and support the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The AfCFTA aims to create the world’s largest free trade zone by connecting 54 African economies and facilitating the free movement of goods, services, capital, and eventually labour across national borders.

Easing travel restrictions is considered a critical step toward achieving that goal. By reducing visa requirements, countries can encourage more trade missions, tourism flows, and regional business partnerships.

For Uganda, the new visa-free regime also represents a strategic economic policy.

Tourism remains one of the country’s key sources of foreign exchange, with attractions such as mountain gorilla trekking, national parks, and Lake Victoria drawing visitors from around the world.

Simplifying entry procedures could make Uganda more competitive against other regional tourism destinations.

At the same time, officials say easier travel can stimulate cross-border trade, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses operating across East Africa.

The policy therefore serves both economic and diplomatic objectives, strengthening regional ties while signalling Uganda’s commitment to deeper African integration.

Uganda’s visa-free initiative demonstrates how governments are using mobility reforms to support economic growth, regional cooperation, and stronger people-to-people links.

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