Ugandan tourism and business players are pushing the government to take retaliatory action against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including considering a suspension of Emirates flights to Entebbe, until Dubai lifts travel restrictions imposed on Ugandan nationals over the Ebola outbreak.The demand comes despite Uganda being officially declared Ebola-free on July 28, 2026, with the Ministry of Health confirming that the country has no active Ebola infections.
Tourism stakeholders argue that continued restrictions are no longer justified and are increasingly hurting Uganda’s tourism, trade and business interests.Tourism entrepreneur Amos Wekesa has been among the most vocal critics of the UAE measures, questioning why Emirates continues to operate flights from Entebbe to Dubai while Ugandans face restrictions on travelling to the UAE. In a post on X on August 8, Wekesa called on the government to consider stopping Emirates flights until Ugandans are allowed to travel freely to Dubai.
“Why have you locked out Ugandans? Yet Emirates still flies into Uganda and Uganda Airlines can’t come to Dubai because its primary market is Ugandans meant to do business in Dubai?” Wekesa said, arguing that the situation creates an unfair imbalance in air travel and business opportunities between the two countries.He went further, urging the government to send a strong message by restricting Emirates operations in Uganda. Wekesa said the government should simply declare that Emirates would not be allowed to fly into Uganda until the UAE opens its doors to Ugandan travellers. Emirates currently operates five flights a week between Entebbe and Dubai, making the route a major link between Uganda and the Gulf business hub.The UAE introduced the restrictions on June 6 following the Ebola outbreak, suspending the issuance of new visas to nationals of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, while also imposing entry restrictions on travellers arriving from the three countries.
Travellers who have spent more than 21 consecutive days outside the affected countries may, however, be permitted to enter subject to other immigration requirements.Uganda’s tourism industry is now questioning why such measures remain in force after the country successfully contained the outbreak. Wekesa and other industry players say prolonged restrictions could undermine tourism recovery, discourage business travel and affect investors, traders and other Ugandans whose activities depend on international mobility.The UAE is also not the only country maintaining Ebola-related measures involving Uganda.
Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United States have retained various restrictions or enhanced health screening requirements for travellers linked to Uganda, although the nature and duration of the measures differ. With Uganda having declared the outbreak over, tourism stakeholders are increasingly demanding that foreign governments review the restrictions, warning that continued controls could cause unnecessary economic damage and strain international relations.
