Uganda has announced Visa‑Free Entry for Lesotho citizens and 39 other countries, allowing stays of up to three months for tourism or business as of March 2026.
This policy is part of the Ugandan government’s broader effort to facilitate travel, enhance trade and strengthen diplomatic ties particularly within Africa.
Key African nations include Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, DR Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
While other countries include Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ireland, Malaysia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Malta, Solomon Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu and Hong Kong SAR.
However, the United States of America (USA), European Union (EU) countries and the United Kingdom are not included in this visa-free list, following recent, more restrictive travel rules between Uganda and the U.S
This initiative aims to boost regional integration and tourism, featuring many African nations, including Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda as well as select international countries.
Moreover, former Ghana Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Ras Mubarak also Leader of Trans-Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign, a government of Ghana backed initiative aimed at uniting Africa through a visa-free policy for nationals traveling through the continent has to date visited 32 African countries advocating for seamless travel, tourism and economic integration, engaging governments, traditional leaders and citizens in the vision for a borderless Africa.
While in Lesotho in July last year, he had said a borderless Africa is not only achievable but essential for the continent’s economic and cultural integration saying they believed a visa-free Africa can become a reality within the next five years.
He said Lesotho has potential particularly in tourism saying if all Africans get to know about Lesotho, no one would want to go to Australia.
Meanwhile, the requirements for Uganda’s visa-free policy include a valid passport or interstate pass for East African community members.
Several African countries are visa-free for other Africans, including Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda and Seychelles. Ghana, Kenya, Cabo Verde and Nigeria are also significantly expanding visa access for travelers from other African nations.
Source: Lesotho News Agency [LENA]
