Uganda tightens visa rules
Jan 31, 2008
UGANDA has tightened its entry restrictions by introducing single-entry and multiple visas that will be valid for six months. The decision was made after the long-term multiple visas were abused, with most foreigners using them as work permits.
By Mary Karugaba
UGANDA has tightened its entry restrictions by introducing single-entry and multiple visas that will be valid for six months. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, James Mugume, said the decision was made after the long-term multiple visas were abused, with most foreigners using them as work permits.
“We have agreed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the period for issuing visas should be reduced so that long-term visas are not abused,†Mugume said yesterday.
He was appearing before the public accounts committee to answer queries in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2005/6.
Mugume said he had directed all Ugandan missions abroad to requisition for visa stickers on a quarterly basis.
Mugume was responding to MPs’ concern that whereas other countries continue to tighten their entry rules, Uganda was still lagging behind.
“In India, a single-entry visa is valid for one month but in Uganda, we treat Indians differently. Is that being fair?
They come and stay for as long as they wish and do jobs that would otherwise be done by Ugandans,†the committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi (FDC), said.
Oduman Okello (FDC) said there was an outcry by residents of Bukedea district that Asians were flocking the area and had taken up their jobs.
Mafabi proposed that the Government only issues visas through foreign embassies and not at the airport.
However, Mugume rejected the suggestion, arguing that Uganda was a developing country that needed to attract investors and tourists.
He said the ministry had not cleared arrears amounting to sh30b of which sh28b is outstanding contributions to international organisations.
He revealed that the Cabinet had decided that payments to organisations like the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Commonwealth, the African Union, the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Countries and the World Trade Organisation be made statutory.
Mugume told the committee that the ministry’s outstanding advances had accumulated to sh1.4b.
He said accountability for the sh482m, which was advanced to the security sub-committee, was received, leaving a balance of sh67m.
Mugume explained that he had written to the accounting officer of the President’s Office demanding the accountability of the remaining money.
The committee cautioned Mugume against advances, saying advances are supposed to be accounted for within 60 days.
UGANDA has tightened its entry restrictions by introducing single-entry and multiple visas that will be valid for six months. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, James Mugume, said the decision was made after the long-term multiple visas were abused, with most foreigners using them as work permits.
“We have agreed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the period for issuing visas should be reduced so that long-term visas are not abused,†Mugume said yesterday.
He was appearing before the public accounts committee to answer queries in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2005/6.
Mugume said he had directed all Ugandan missions abroad to requisition for visa stickers on a quarterly basis.
Mugume was responding to MPs’ concern that whereas other countries continue to tighten their entry rules, Uganda was still lagging behind.
“In India, a single-entry visa is valid for one month but in Uganda, we treat Indians differently. Is that being fair?
They come and stay for as long as they wish and do jobs that would otherwise be done by Ugandans,†the committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi (FDC), said.
Oduman Okello (FDC) said there was an outcry by residents of Bukedea district that Asians were flocking the area and had taken up their jobs.
Mafabi proposed that the Government only issues visas through foreign embassies and not at the airport.
However, Mugume rejected the suggestion, arguing that Uganda was a developing country that needed to attract investors and tourists.
He said the ministry had not cleared arrears amounting to sh30b of which sh28b is outstanding contributions to international organisations.
He revealed that the Cabinet had decided that payments to organisations like the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Commonwealth, the African Union, the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Countries and the World Trade Organisation be made statutory.
Mugume told the committee that the ministry’s outstanding advances had accumulated to sh1.4b.
He said accountability for the sh482m, which was advanced to the security sub-committee, was received, leaving a balance of sh67m.
Mugume explained that he had written to the accounting officer of the President’s Office demanding the accountability of the remaining money.
The committee cautioned Mugume against advances, saying advances are supposed to be accounted for within 60 days.