UAE lifts visa restrictions on Uganda

What the report says

The United Arab Emirates has ended a suspension on new visas for Ugandan nationals, easing travel rules that were introduced in June 2026 over concerns about Ebola in the region, according to The Observer. The change was announced on Wednesday, November 11, by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, working with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

Under the revised rules, Ugandans can again apply for visas and enter the UAE, but they must have spent at least 21 days outside Uganda before travelling. The updated arrangements also cover certain groups linked to Uganda, including students who enrolled in UAE institutions before June 2026, their family members, some embassy staff, and holders of Ugandan diplomatic and special passports. Humanitarian and medical cases will continue to be reviewed individually.

The policy shift follows Uganda’s declaration that its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak was over on July 28, 2026, after health authorities said they had stopped local transmission and completed required response measures. Uganda first confirmed the outbreak on May 15, 2026. The country’s health ministry has said it remains Ebola-free, though it continues surveillance because of ongoing transmission in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Observer also noted that UAE restrictions on nationals of the DRC and South Sudan remain in place. The move highlights how travel policy in the region continues to be shaped by cross-border public health risks and ongoing monitoring of Ebola outbreaks.