Uganda has secured two landmark visa-free travel agreements with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a significant diplomatic breakthrough that will ease movement for official and government passport holders between the three countries.
“Ugandans with diplomatic and official passports can now travel to Egypt without applying for visas. This will enable easier travel and trade between the two countries. However, ordinary passport holders are not included in this arrangement for now,” said a Ministry of Internal Affairs official.
Similarly, the Uganda-UAE agreement, which took effect on February 10, 2026, allows UAE nationals holding diplomatic, special, ordinary, and service passports to enter Uganda visa-free for stays of up to 90 days, while Ugandan diplomatic and service passport holders enjoy the same privilege when travelling to the UAE for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The Uganda-UAE agreement was originally signed on May 7, 2025, and entered into force following ratification by both governments.
The Uganda-Egypt arrangement was announced at the Police Headquarters in Naguru by Simon Mundeyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, following a series of bilateral engagements between the two governments.
.Watch: “Uganda has expanded visa-free travel with Egypt and the UAE for diplomatic and official passport holders, while ordinary passport holders will continue to follow standard visa procedures,” said Simon Mundeyi, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson. #ChimpReportsNews… pic.twitter.com/FCLwsZaCvM
— ChimpReports (@ChimpReports) February 23, 2026
It is important to note that the visa-free access is not universal.
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Ordinary Ugandan passport holders are not included in the current UAE waiver and must still follow the standard visa application process when travelling to the UAE for tourism or business.
The same restriction applies to the Egypt arrangement, meaning millions of regular Ugandan travellers are yet to benefit from the new deals.
Why It Matters
Officials say the deals enhance recognition of Uganda’s official passports, ease government travel, and facilitate bilateral trade.
The UAE has been steadily deepening its footprint in East Africa, with key players such as DP World and Etihad Cargo expanding operations across the region making Uganda’s strengthened access to Abu Dhabi strategically significant.
Analysts say the agreements could serve as a foundation for broader visa liberalisation in the future, potentially extending to ordinary passport holders as diplomatic and economic ties between Uganda, Egypt, and the UAE continue to grow.
