Ugandan ambassador to UAE speaks out on alleged visa ban

KAMPALA - "There has been no official statement from the Government of the UAE communicating restrictions or a ban on visa issuance to Ugandan nationals, and neither has Uganda been blacklisted by the UAE as alleged by various sources in the media,” Uganda’s ambassador in the United Arab Emirates Zaake Wanume Kibedi has said.

On Friday, September 19, 2025, he urged Ugandans to avoid reliance on unofficial sources of information and instead monitor updates from the official websites of the competent authorities.

His statement comes in the wake of viral allegations on social media that UAE had announced the issuance of visa bans to Uganda and seven other countries.

Kibedi said it had come to the attention of the embassy about the recent media publications alleging the denial and/or ban of visa issuance to Ugandans and issued a detailed clarification on the matter. 

Saying the allegations were unfounded, Kibedi stated, "We wish to remind the Ugandans that visa applications are processed in accordance with the immigration laws and regulations of the host country, and each application is assessed individually based on the completeness of documentation and eligibility. Where denials might occur, these are entirely based on individual circumstances and not on nationality,” he added.

“As a Mission, we continue to engage with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cases where concerns have been raised by the diaspora or Ugandans on matters related to visa issuance and remain committed to creating awareness to the diaspora on the importance of adhering to the laws of the host country and, in particular, the immigration laws,” he stated.

Kibedi encouraged Ugandans in the UAE to monitor updates from the official websites of the competent authorities.

"Submit complete applications for visas with requisite sufficient supporting documentation; Be aware of third parties promising expedited visa processing; and act promptly to renew, extend or regularise their stay where their visa is set to expire to avoid overstay penalties," his statement further reads.

Kibedi, also warned that any misinformation would compromise "the apparent vibrant and strong bilateral relations between our two countries, which have facilitated increased economic and commercial gains for both Uganda and the UAE.”

He said there are currently 160,000 Ugandans living and working in the UAE, compared to 40,000 in 2018. 

This has facilitated the increase of remittances from $50m (sh150b) in 2018 to $350m (sh1.2trillion) in 2024.

The UAE has become the leading market destination for Uganda's exports globally since October 2024. The trade portfolio between Uganda and the UAE is now at $ 2.85b.

Foreign Direct Investment from the UAE  has grown from $300m in 2018 to over $3b in 2024.

He also said over 100 companies have established businesses and enterprises in the UAE.

In the same statement, he revealed that his office was aware of "a case of human trafficking and action has been taken by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates, and investigations are ongoing, but to avoid jeopardising the process, we shall revert with detailed information at an appropriate time".