The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Uganda, Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi, has dismissed reports claiming that his country has imposed a visa ban on Ugandan nationals.
Speaking to the New Vision, AlShamsi said there has been no official communication from Abu Dhabi regarding any such restrictions.
“What is circulating out there is false,” he clarified.
His remarks follow widespread online claims that the UAE—one of the most popular destinations for Ugandans seeking employment—would halt visa issuance to Ugandans beginning January 2026.
Currently, more than 100,000 Ugandan migrant workers are legally employed in the UAE, many in domestic and service sector jobs. The Gulf nation, a federation of seven emirates including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, has long been a preferred labour hub for Ugandans.
Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also echoed the ambassador’s position. Permanent secretary Vincent Bagiire confirmed that no formal notification has been received from the UAE government regarding changes to visa policy.
“The source of that information is not an official UAE government website. Additionally, authorities in Abu Dhabi and the UAE embassy in Kampala have not communicated any visa freeze on Ugandans,” Bagiire said. He noted, however, that visa applications are often rejected if applicants fail to meet the set requirements.
The UAE has previously placed temporary visa restrictions on Ugandan travellers. In 2022, it suspended the issuance of 30-day visit visas to Ugandans and citizens of 20 other countries, reportedly to curb widespread overstays and abuse of short-term permits.
The latest rumours also emerged against the backdrop of a BBC investigation that exposed a Ugandan national, Charles Mwesigwa, allegedly running a sexual exploitation network in Dubai. According to the report, Mwesigwa told undercover journalists that he could arrange women for sex parties at a minimum of $1,000 (about Shs3.5m), claiming many of the victims were Ugandan women.
Despite such concerns, both the UAE envoy and Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry maintain that no new visa ban has been imposed, urging the public to disregard unofficial reports.
