DUBAI, UAE — The Government of Uganda is engaging the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to remove restrictions that have suspended the issuance of new visas to Ugandan nationals and limited entry for travellers arriving from Uganda.
The issue was raised by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during a meeting with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Dubai on Tuesday.
Nabbanja said the restrictions were affecting trade and other economic activities between Uganda and the UAE.
She said discussions between the two governments were already underway and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon.
The restrictions were introduced by the UAE on June 6 as a precautionary measure following an Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
Among the measures was the suspension of new visas for Ugandan nationals, including visit visas.
The UAE also introduced restrictions on travellers arriving from Uganda, including people who had recently travelled through Uganda before entering the UAE.
Under the measures, travellers who have recently been in Uganda are required to spend more than 21 days outside the country before they can enter the UAE.
The restrictions affect passenger entry into the UAE but do not amount to a complete suspension of air connections between Uganda and the Gulf state.
Cargo and transit flights have continued, allowing some commercial and aviation activities between the two countries to continue.
The measures were introduced at a time when Uganda was dealing with an Ebola outbreak.
The World Health Organization later declared the Ebola outbreak officially over in August after Uganda recorded 20 cases and two deaths.
Despite the end of the outbreak, the UAE restrictions have remained in place, prompting Uganda to intensify diplomatic engagements aimed at securing their removal.
Uganda is particularly concerned about the economic impact of the restrictions because its commercial relationship with the UAE has expanded rapidly in recent years.
According to Ugandan government figures, bilateral trade between Uganda and the UAE increased from about $600 million in 2018 to $2.7 billion in 2024.
The value of trade then rose further to approximately $4.7 billion in 2025, making the UAE an increasingly important commercial partner for Uganda.
UAE foreign direct investment in Uganda has also grown significantly, increasing from about $300 million in 2018 to approximately $3.5 billion in 2025.
The UAE has also become an important destination for Ugandan nationals, with the Ugandan community in the country estimated at more than 150,000 people in 2025.
This represents a major increase from an estimated 50,000 Ugandans living in the UAE in 2018.
Nabbanja’s visit to Dubai also focused on strengthening investment and attracting additional UAE companies to Uganda.
During the visit, the Prime Minister and her delegation met representatives of 13 companies that expressed interest in investing in Uganda.
The delegation, which included Uganda Investment Authority Director General Robert Mukiza, presented investment opportunities available in the country during the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai.
Nabbanja said the delegation provided the companies with additional information about investment opportunities and expressed hope that they would establish operations in Uganda.
She highlighted mineral value addition, agro-processing, manufacturing and information and communications technology as some of the sectors offering investment opportunities.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, Zaake Kibedi, said the Ugandan diplomatic mission would continue providing businesses with information about investment opportunities in the country.
He also said the mission would support companies interested in establishing operations in Uganda.
The meeting between Nabbanja and Sheikh Abdullah therefore comes as Uganda seeks to maintain its growing economic relationship with the UAE while addressing the restrictions affecting Ugandan travellers.
Ugandan officials are expected to continue discussions with their UAE counterparts as Kampala seeks a resolution that would allow normal movement of people while protecting the expanding trade and investment relationship between the two countries.
