The Government of Uganda has declared that Congolese nationals will no longer require visas to enter Uganda as of January 1, 2024.
Simon Peter Mundeyi, the Ministry of Internal Affairs Spokesperson, said in a statement made on December 18, 2023, on behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the decision was made after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became a full member of the East African Community (EAC).
“Following their accession to the EAC Treaty on April 8, 2022, as of January 1, 2024, Congolese nationals will no longer require visas to enter Uganda,” Mundeyi said.
“The East African Community Common Market Protocol is based on the principle of free movement of persons. According to Article 7(2)(d), partner states are required to allow citizens of other partner states to enter without a visa,” Mundeyi added.
According to Mundeyi, an agreement was made during the 8th Joint Permanent Commission held from October 11 to 15, 2023, in Kinshasa, where both parties agreed in principle to waive the visa requirement for citizens of both countries on a reciprocal basis with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He added that after the above-mentioned agreement, the issue was discussed and Cabinet Minute 374 (CT 2023) was adopted, eliminating the need for a visa for citizens of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to enter and exit the respective countries.
Uganda has so far waived the visa requirement for over 30 countries, which include Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho, the Seychelles, and Zambia, among others.