Uganda to implement free visa entry to South Sudan

Minister for  East African Affairs Rebecca Kadaga leaving after addressing the media at Kingdom Building along Nile Avenue in Kampala on matters of waiving visa fees with South Sudan. Right is Edward Ssebina, commissioner for Social affairs (newvision.co.ug)

Uganda has given the Republic of South Sudan a window of 30 days to allow free visa entry to Ugandans entering the country. 

This follows a move by the government of Uganda to grant visa free entry by citizens of South Sudan effective October 1, 2021. 

The minister for East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga said that following the move, Uganda expects their northern neighbors to reciprocate but if they don’t, the offer will be removed.  

Minister for East African Affairs Rebecca Kadaga addressing the media at Kingdom Building along Nile Avenue in Kampala on matters of waiving visa fees with South Sudan. Right is Edward Ssebina, commissioner for Social affairs (newvision.co.ug)

“On October 1 this year, the right of free access to Uganda by citizens of South Sudan will be implemented.  

We, therefore, expect the Republic of South Sudan to equally reciprocate so that the citizens of Uganda have free entry and we have given them a window of one month, up to 31^st of October to equally reciprocate and grant free visa entry to the citizens of Uganda,”Kadaga told journalists at a press conference at the ministry head office on Kingdom Building, Nile Avenue.   

“If they don’t reciprocate in one month, we shall also reinstate the payment,” she stressed in response to concerns that it would not be the first time that the government of South Sudan fails to honor on its commitment. 

But Kadaga said integration ‘is not a one off, you have to build confidence and support’. “We are therefore calling on them (South Sudan) to deliver on their promise and we have shown our goodwill,” she said.  

She said there have been attempts to ensure free entry of citizens from Uganda to South Sudan and vice versa, which she said follows directives by the heads of states of both countries in 2016 when South Sudan was being admitted to the East African Community.

She added that in February 2018, the council of ministers from both countries directed that Uganda and South Sudan should implement free access to their citizens. 

Speaking about the security status for travelers and traders to South Sudan, Kadaga said that a lot had been achieved in the past few months. “I also want to update the country that over the last few months we have been in discussions (with South Sudan) concerning the security of the travelers especially along the Juba-Nimule route and we have received commitment from our neighbors,” she explained. 

Kadaga added, “I can confirm that now the illegal roadblocks on the highway have been removed, the government of South Sudan has deployed in areas identified as hotspots and they have also implemented the security convoy to escort the traders from Nimule to Juba”. 

In addition, she said, South Sudan has accepted to undertake the clearing of the bushes between Juba and Nimule and so far the section between Nimule and Nestu has been handled. 

She added that the government of South Sudan was also in the process of doing the clearance on the rest of the road. 

On the common market protocol, Kadaga said it is an area that the two countries need to handle. “I intend to have bilateral meetings with the delegation from South Sudan so that we can ensure the implementation of the common market protocol, which is important for the people of East Africa.   

 She said already Kenya signed bilateral agreement with South Sudan on free visa entry and it is being implemented. 

 Kadaga also promised to engage other neighbors to clear the borders. “I know we have issues with other borders and I intent to have bilateral meetings with all the delegations including our nearest neighbor where the border has been closed for some time,” she said, adding that she will pursue the same with Tanzania and Kenya on other issues concerning trade and taxes. 

 “The visa fees are a barrier to freedom of movement, if you have not paid the visa fees you don’t enter the country but since we share a lot of things with South Sudan, it is key and important that our people are able to enter back and forth to trade,” she said.