UTA President Pushes For Visa-Free Africa
For Ugandans, travel across Africa remains more difficult than necessary. Isa Kato, the vice president of the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), urges African countries to fulfill the African Union’s visa-free travel commitment, arguing that easier movement across borders is essential for Uganda and the continent.
He argues that visa-free Africa must move from discussion to implementation, as the outcome directly affects Uganda’s tourism, economic competitiveness, and the strength of “Destination Uganda.”
Aspiration 2 of Agenda 2063 envisions “An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance,” and Aspiration 5 envisions “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics.
”To achieve these aspirations of African’s seeing themselves as one people united under the ideals of pan-Africanism, the physical and invisible barriers that have prevented the integration of Africa’s people need to be removed. The Agenda 2063 project, The African Passport and Free Movement of People, aims to remove restrictions on Africans’ ability to travel, work, and live within their own continent.
The initiative aims at transforming Africa’s laws, which remain generally restrictive on the movement of people despite political commitments to bring down borders with the view to promoting the issuance of visas by Member States to enhance free movement of all African citizens in all African countries.
According to the Africa Visa Openness Index, on average, Africans need visas to enter 55% of states within the continent. It has been noted that travelling within the region for Africans equates to visa formalities that are time-consuming, cumbersome, and expensive.
Currently, Ugandan citizens can access about 25 African countries visa-free or with visas on arrival, but many major markets remain restrictive.
Travel to North Africa, parts of Southern Africa, and several West and Central African states still requires advance visas, costly documentation, lengthy approvals, or embassy visits that many cannot afford.
“Most Ugandans would love to explore Africa first before going to Europe,” Kato says, “but the paperwork and uncertainty push them to destinations like Dubai, which is straightforward and predictable.”
He stresses that the restrictions suppress demand for tourism, which would be cheaper and also limit opportunities for Ugandan students, traders, sports teams, families, and leisure travelers alike. “Uganda markets itself as the ‘Pearl of Africa,’ but visitors continue to face a visa process that, while improving, remains less smooth than in countries like Rwanda, Seychelles, or Kenya,” he notes. “Most visitors require a visa, even many Africans, and although Uganda offers visas on arrival, travelers often must complete an online application in advance. Payment glitches, long border queues, and inconsistent information discourage spontaneous travel.”
A Ugandan family planning to drive from Kampala to Dakar, for example, must process visas for at least eight countries compared to a European traveler who often enjoys smoother entry across EU borders. Even short holidays within Africa become disproportionately expensive for Ugandans because of visa costs averaging USD 50–100, not counting transport challenges.
This frustration mirrors the experience of Ras Mubarak, a former Ghanaian Member of Parliament who is driving across Africa to highlight the impact of visa restrictions on ordinary travelers. Mubarak’s team has passed through 22 countries, often encountering the same obstacles Ugandans face. “Africa’s tourism will not grow if Africans themselves cannot move easily across the continent,” Mubarak says. “It is often easier and cheaper for an African to fly to Dubai or Europe than to visit another African country.”
Basil Ajar, the director for Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, draws a sharp comparison with the Middle East, now one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism regions. “Middle Eastern countries market themselves as a cluster and make movement easy,” Ajar explains. “They offer visas on arrival or visa-free entry for many nationalities. That convenience encourages travelers to move within the region.”
Though Uganda’s visa regime is not the most restrictive on the continent, it is also not among the most open, making it less competitive in the region. Rwanda, Kenya (since 2024), Seychelles, and Benin have fully removed visas for all Africans, attracting more conferences, transit travelers, and regional tourism traffic.
“Uganda has strong tourism assets, but convenience matters just as much as attractions,” Kato says. “If a traveler finds it easier to enter Rwanda or Kenya, they are more likely to start their trip there, and may bypass Uganda altogether.”
He adds that convenience is now part of destination branding. Rwanda markets simplicity. Kenya sells connectivity. Uganda has beauty, but it needs to reduce friction. Uganda currently allows visa-free entry for only a small list of countries, mainly in the EAC. Most international visitors still require a visa, and while the single-tourist EAC visa exists, it is still inconsistently promoted and adopted across the region.
Foreign tourists visiting Uganda frequently report that the visa process is manageable but not optimal. Some complain about unclear instructions, unreliable online payment systems, or occasional delays at Entebbe. For first-time travelers, especially backpackers and regional tourists, this uncertainty can determine whether Uganda is chosen or skipped.
Uganda’s tourism sector stakeholders believe that restrictive visa regimes, both inbound and outbound, are holding the country back. “When a tourist lands in Nairobi or Kigali, crossing into Uganda should be automatic and painless,” says Kato. “But when paperwork becomes too much, travelers cut Uganda out of their itinerary.”
Simplifying movement is not just a continental dream; it is a strategic opportunity to boost jobs, build regional circuits, increase tourism earnings, and cement the country’s place as a welcoming, modern African destination.
He argues that visa-free Africa must move from discussion to implementation, as the outcome directly affects Uganda’s tourism, economic competitiveness, and the strength of “Destination Uganda.”
Aspiration 2 of Agenda 2063 envisions “An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance,” and Aspiration 5 envisions “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics.
”To achieve these aspirations of African’s seeing themselves as one people united under the ideals of pan-Africanism, the physical and invisible barriers that have prevented the integration of Africa’s people need to be removed. The Agenda 2063 project, The African Passport and Free Movement of People, aims to remove restrictions on Africans’ ability to travel, work, and live within their own continent.
The initiative aims at transforming Africa’s laws, which remain generally restrictive on the movement of people despite political commitments to bring down borders with the view to promoting the issuance of visas by Member States to enhance free movement of all African citizens in all African countries.
According to the Africa Visa Openness Index, on average, Africans need visas to enter 55% of states within the continent. It has been noted that travelling within the region for Africans equates to visa formalities that are time-consuming, cumbersome, and expensive.
Currently, Ugandan citizens can access about 25 African countries visa-free or with visas on arrival, but many major markets remain restrictive.
Travel to North Africa, parts of Southern Africa, and several West and Central African states still requires advance visas, costly documentation, lengthy approvals, or embassy visits that many cannot afford.
“Most Ugandans would love to explore Africa first before going to Europe,” Kato says, “but the paperwork and uncertainty push them to destinations like Dubai, which is straightforward and predictable.”
He stresses that the restrictions suppress demand for tourism, which would be cheaper and also limit opportunities for Ugandan students, traders, sports teams, families, and leisure travelers alike. “Uganda markets itself as the ‘Pearl of Africa,’ but visitors continue to face a visa process that, while improving, remains less smooth than in countries like Rwanda, Seychelles, or Kenya,” he notes. “Most visitors require a visa, even many Africans, and although Uganda offers visas on arrival, travelers often must complete an online application in advance. Payment glitches, long border queues, and inconsistent information discourage spontaneous travel.”
A Ugandan family planning to drive from Kampala to Dakar, for example, must process visas for at least eight countries compared to a European traveler who often enjoys smoother entry across EU borders. Even short holidays within Africa become disproportionately expensive for Ugandans because of visa costs averaging USD 50–100, not counting transport challenges.
This frustration mirrors the experience of Ras Mubarak, a former Ghanaian Member of Parliament who is driving across Africa to highlight the impact of visa restrictions on ordinary travelers. Mubarak’s team has passed through 22 countries, often encountering the same obstacles Ugandans face. “Africa’s tourism will not grow if Africans themselves cannot move easily across the continent,” Mubarak says. “It is often easier and cheaper for an African to fly to Dubai or Europe than to visit another African country.”
Basil Ajar, the director for Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, draws a sharp comparison with the Middle East, now one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism regions. “Middle Eastern countries market themselves as a cluster and make movement easy,” Ajar explains. “They offer visas on arrival or visa-free entry for many nationalities. That convenience encourages travelers to move within the region.”
Though Uganda’s visa regime is not the most restrictive on the continent, it is also not among the most open, making it less competitive in the region. Rwanda, Kenya (since 2024), Seychelles, and Benin have fully removed visas for all Africans, attracting more conferences, transit travelers, and regional tourism traffic.
“Uganda has strong tourism assets, but convenience matters just as much as attractions,” Kato says. “If a traveler finds it easier to enter Rwanda or Kenya, they are more likely to start their trip there, and may bypass Uganda altogether.”
He adds that convenience is now part of destination branding. Rwanda markets simplicity. Kenya sells connectivity. Uganda has beauty, but it needs to reduce friction. Uganda currently allows visa-free entry for only a small list of countries, mainly in the EAC. Most international visitors still require a visa, and while the single-tourist EAC visa exists, it is still inconsistently promoted and adopted across the region.
Foreign tourists visiting Uganda frequently report that the visa process is manageable but not optimal. Some complain about unclear instructions, unreliable online payment systems, or occasional delays at Entebbe. For first-time travelers, especially backpackers and regional tourists, this uncertainty can determine whether Uganda is chosen or skipped.
Uganda’s tourism sector stakeholders believe that restrictive visa regimes, both inbound and outbound, are holding the country back. “When a tourist lands in Nairobi or Kigali, crossing into Uganda should be automatic and painless,” says Kato. “But when paperwork becomes too much, travelers cut Uganda out of their itinerary.”
Simplifying movement is not just a continental dream; it is a strategic opportunity to boost jobs, build regional circuits, increase tourism earnings, and cement the country’s place as a welcoming, modern African destination.
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