The Ugandan government has revealed that at least 20,000 Ugandans staying in South Africa illegally have complicated Kampala's efforts to secure visa-free travel for its nationals.
Uganda's Directorate of Immigration says talks with Pretoria over a possible visa waiver for ordinary passport holders have stalled because of more than 20,000 Ugandans who recently entered South Africa illegally.
Some have apparently refused to return home.
Earlier March 2026, Uganda's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that the country's citizens could travel to 40 African countries without a need for prior visa.
Ugandans to wait longer for South Africa visa waiver
However, the Daily Monitor reports that efforts to secure South Africa as the latest visa-free destination for Ugandans have remained futile.
This comes despite a positive update by the Ugandan government in late February that it was in advanced talks with Pretoria to lift visa requirement for Ugandan citizens.
In the February update, Uganda's Ministry of Internal Affairs said a final bilateral agreement was supposed to be signed by both governments "very soon", therefore enabling easier travel for Ugandans seeking to do business, tour, or study in South Africa.
According to the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria, there are more than 50,000 Ugandans living, working, and studying in South Africa.
Presidents Museveni, Ramaphosa talks
In February 2023, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni visited South Africa, and one of his key talking points with President Cyril Ramaphosa was the possibility of Ugandans travelling visa-free to South Africa.
Currently, Ugandans who have diplomatic or service passports are allowed to enter South Africa visa-free following successful talks in recent years.
However, those with ordinary passports must pay around 60 US dollars and wait for over a week to have their South African visas processed.
The valid visa stay period for Ugandans in South Africa is a maximum of 90 days within one year.
Kenyans, Tanzanians enter South Africa visa-free
South Africans, on the other hand, also require an e-Visa to enter Uganda for a maximum of 90 days within a year.
In East Africa, Kenyan and Tanzanian passport holders can enter South Africa visa-free for a period of 90 days within a year.
South Africa lifted visa requirement for Tanzanians in 2010, with Dodoma reciprocating the gesture in 2013.
Kenya, on the other hand, formally secured visa-free access to South Africa in 2023.
Passport strength
South African passport holders, however, could enter Kenya visa-free long before that agreement was signed.
In East Africa, Kenya's passport is the strongest, accessing 77 destinations worldwide, and ranks at position 63 globally alongside Malawi. This is according to the Passport Index rankings.
Tanzania is second in East Africa, with 74 destinations, and ties with Cape Verde and Tunisia at 64th position globally.
Uganda ranks third in East Africa and 67th worldwide, accessing 71 destinations globally.
Confidence level
A South African passport allows access to 109 destinations, and ranks 43rd in the world. In Africa, it comes third, behind top-ranked Seychelles and second-placed Mauritius.
Passport strength reflects the confidence level that nations have in a visiting person's country.
