The government of Uganda has declared that citizens of 40 countries and territories, including the neighbouring country, Kenya, will no longer need to seek a visa before visiting the country.

The visa waiver programme is included in the moves by the Ugandan government to ease the travel process, promote tourism, and enhance diplomacy and economic relationships with the partner countries.

The government of Uganda confirmed on its social media accounts on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, that the Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs announced this direction and the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, which is in charge of immigration services, put it into effect. The Ugandan government has said that this step shows that Uganda is serious about making it easier for people to travel between countries. This will lead to more cooperation between countries.

“Nationals from the countries and regions listed above are not required to obtain a visa before travelling to Uganda, in accordance with Uganda’s visa exemption arrangements. This provision facilitates smoother travel and reflects Uganda’s continued commitment to promoting regional integration, tourism, trade, and people-to-people connectivity,” the Ugandan government statement read.

Among the countries which were granted a visa-free entrance are several states in the East African region. These are Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Burundi. These countries have very good trade, culture and political relations with Uganda, and the visa waiver is likely to enhance the flow of people and cooperation between these countries.

Other African countries on the visa-free list

Uganda has also let some other African countries, which are not in East Africa, enter without a visa. Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are all examples. Uganda is expected to improve cooperation on the continent and make it easier for Africans to travel by extending visa-free entry to these countries.

Visa-Free Countries Outside Africa

The visa exemption programme also gives some countries and territories outside of Africa more power. Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and Hong Kong are all places where they are.

Further Provision of Travel Documents

Officials in Uganda also made it clear that citizens of visa-free countries with Conventional Travel Documents (CTDs) from any country will also be able to enter Uganda without a visa. This is the provision that makes the eligible travellers with accepted travel documents enjoy the visa-free arrangement.

Uganda historically required visas for most visitors, but as part of East African Community integration, it waived visa requirements for Kenya and Rwanda in 2015, allowing them to enter visa-free. In 2026, the Government of Uganda expanded its visa exemption list to include the 40 countries whose citizens may enter without a visa, further liberalising travel.