The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Uganda, Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi, has officially dismissed widespread reports claiming that the UAE has imposed a visa ban on Ugandans starting in 2026.
Speaking to New Vision, Ambassador AlShamsi made it clear that no such directive has come from Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital.
“What is circulating out there is false,” he said, referring to the online rumors that have caused concern among Ugandans, especially those seeking jobs abroad.
The rumors suggested that the UAE would stop issuing visas to Ugandan citizens starting January 2026. These claims quickly spread across social media and some online platforms, sparking panic among those planning to travel or work in the Gulf nation.
Currently, over 100,000 Ugandan migrant workers are legally employed in the UAE, mostly in domestic and service sectors. For many Ugandans, the UAE—especially cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi—remains a top destination for job opportunities.
Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that there has been no official communication from the UAE about any visa ban.
Vincent Bagiire, the ministry’s permanent secretary, stated:
“The source of that information is not an official UAE government website. Neither the UAE embassy in Kampala nor authorities in Abu Dhabi have issued any statement about stopping visas for Ugandans.”
He added that while individual visa applications may be rejected for not meeting specific requirements, that is not the same as a ban.
The UAE has placed temporary visa restrictions on Ugandans in the past. For example, in 2022, the country suspended the issuing of 30-day visit visas for Ugandans and citizens from 20 other countries.
That decision was reportedly made to reduce overstaying and abuse of short-term visas.
The latest rumors come shortly after a BBC investigation exposed a Ugandan man, Charles Mwesigwa, allegedly running a sexual exploitation network in Dubai.
He reportedly told undercover journalists that he could provide women for sex parties at a fee of $1,000 (around UGX 3.5 million), with many of the victims being Ugandan women.
The case sparked outrage both in Uganda and abroad, with Youth Minister Balaam Barugahara calling for Mwesigwa’s immediate arrest.
While the scandal has raised serious concerns, both Ugandan and UAE officials say it has no connection to the current visa rumors.
Authorities from both countries are urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information and rely only on official sources for updates.
“Let us not panic or mislead others. No visa ban has been imposed on Ugandans,” Ambassador AlShamsi emphasized.
