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Ugandans traveling to South Africa could soon afford a big sigh of relief with the possible removal of the visa requirement.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Presidential Advisor on Special Operations and Chief of Defence Forces, dropped hints yesterday on impending talks hoped to take away the visa hurdle.
Muhoozi, this week visited South Africa and met with President Cyril Ramaphosa to deliver a message from President Yoweri Museveni.
Following their discussion, General Kainerugaba announced on social media that visa-free entry for Ugandans into South Africa was among the topics addressed.
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“Visa-free entry for all Ugandans into South Africa is one of the topics I discussed with my uncle, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa. A solution is coming!” he posted.
Read: U.S. Embassy says Ugandans using fake documents to face permanent visa ban
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Business Community Welcomes Potential Policy Change
The prospect of visa-free travel has been met with enthusiasm by Ugandans, especially the business community.
Amos Wekesa, a prominent tourism operator, in response, listed the current challenges faced by Ugandan entrepreneurs.
He noted that while South African businesspeople can travel to Uganda with ease, Ugandan counterparts face stringent visa requirements, hindering fair competition and economic growth.
Wekesa added that South African companies benefit significantly from the Ugandan market, and easing travel restrictions could foster more balanced trade relations.
He also pointed out the cumbersome visa application process, which includes extensive documentation and prolonged passport retention, as a barrier to timely business engagements.
Broader Implications of Visa Restrictions in Africa
The issue of visa restrictions extends beyond Uganda and South Africa, affecting intra-African trade and integration continent-wide.
According to the Africa Visa Openness Index 2023, only four African countries—Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles—have eliminated visa requirements for all African travelers.
In 28% of intra-Africa travel scenarios, African citizens do not require a visa, an improvement from previous years but still indicative of significant barriers.
Visa restrictions have been shown to deter tourism inflows by about 20% and negatively impact international trade and foreign direct investment.
The African Union has called for visa-free movement to boost regional integration, emphasizing that restricted mobility hampers labor migration, business, trade, and overall development.
Easing visa restrictions could facilitate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promoting economic growth and cooperation across the continent.