The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted travel and entry restrictions imposed on Ugandan nationals following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. This decision was made by the UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
According to multiple UAE publications, the decision to lift restrictions was made after a continued assessment of the epidemiological situation and Uganda's completion of the internationally established monitoring period following the end of its Ebola outbreak. However, precautionary measures against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan remain in place due to the ongoing epidemiological situation in those countries.
The UAE initially introduced restrictions on June 6, 2022, suspending the issuance of new visas to nationals of Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan as part of measures to strengthen preparedness against Ebola. Uganda's Foreign Affairs Minister Adonia Ayebare stated that the decision to lift restrictions followed recent discussions with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The lifting of restrictions is significant for Uganda's labour export industry, which relies heavily on the UAE market. The UAE is a major destination for Ugandan migrant workers employed in various sectors such as domestic work, hospitality, private security, construction, retail, and business services.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development estimates that between 100,000 and 160,000 Ugandans live and work in the UAE, mainly in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. These workers send significant remittances to Uganda, estimated to be between $260 million and $350 million annually.
The restrictions had also affected licensed external labour recruitment agencies in Uganda, which reported slowdowns as prospective workers waited for visa processing and travel arrangements to resume. The easing of restrictions is expected to positively impact Uganda's labour export industry and the economy.
The UAE authorities have stated that they will continue to monitor regional and international developments relating to Ebola and review and adjust precautionary measures in line with changing risk assessments and public health standards.
Key points
- The UAE has lifted travel restrictions on Ugandan nationals following the end of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
- The restrictions had significantly impacted Uganda's labour export industry, which relies heavily on the UAE market.
- Precautionary measures against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan remain in place due to the ongoing epidemiological situation in those countries.
