Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa calls for easy process of visa applications
The Deputy Speaker of 11th Parliament Rt. Hon.Thomas Tayebwa has asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Gen Jeje Odongo to present to Parliament in two weeks time a report on what steps he is taking to negotiate with other countries to ease visa access for ordinary Ugandans.
“Rt Hon Prime Minister, I would like to request that in two weeks’ time the Minister of Foreign Affairs brings a comprehensive report on how they are negotiating for visa friendly terms for the ordinary,” he directed.
The Deputy Speaker while giving his communication at the start of this afternoon’s plenary sitting said that many Ugandans have been coming to his office and to other legislators asking for recommendations to get visas to travel abroad.
“While I must acknowledge that Africa as a whole finds VISA requirements for travel to Europe and elsewhere tightened & the process cumbersome. I must admit that some African countries have invested in negotiations with other governments for VISA friendly terms and it is working,” Deputy Speaker said.
“This brings me to an issue where I have received many people coming for recommendations for Visas. It has been very difficult to get Visas. Our President has been advocating for Pan Africanism but it is hard for our people to travel to other countries in Africa”.
Rt Hon. Tayebwa said that there is a Minister who was sick but struggled to access a South African visa for the caretaker because of the restrictions on ordinary passport holders.
“For me as a Ugandan I would like to see that our passport is respected so that our people can access visas to travel abroad,” he added.
Bukonzo West MP Godfrey Atkins Katusabe suggested that an engagement is done with the US embassy in Kampala because while serving as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs last term he engaged with the former Ambassador Debora Malac on allowing Ugandans 10 year visas to the US.
The Deputy Speaker guided that the legislators suggestion will be catered for when debating the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
