Travellers heading to Uganda will no longer be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate when entering the country, the Ugandan immigration authorities have confirmed.
The clarification was issued by Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control following an inquiry by the Uganda Tourism Board.
The tourism agency had sought clarification on whether visitors were still required to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination as part of Uganda’s entry requirements.
In its response, the ministry confirmed that the certificate is not required.
“Accordingly, travellers to Uganda do not require a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for entry,” the ministry stated in the letter.
The immigration authority further noted that the yellow fever certificate is not included among the requirements listed on Uganda’s official e-visa application portal.
The requirement is also absent from the website of the National Citizenship and Immigration Control, according to the ministry.
The clarification is particularly significant for travellers from neighbouring Kenya, who can now enter Uganda without carrying a yellow fever vaccination card as a mandatory immigration document.
Travellers seeking additional information on Uganda’s entry requirements have been directed to contact the ministry’s Public Relations office.
The move comes amid changes to travel requirements across East Africa, with countries reviewing health, insurance and other conditions imposed on international visitors.
In Tanzania, for example, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania are required to have inbound travel insurance, with the policy applying to travellers arriving by air, land or sea. The cover costs approximately Ksh5,700 (USD44) and is valid for up to 92 days.
Citizens of East African Community (EAC) countries, including Kenyans, as well as citizens of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, are exempt from the Tanzanian insurance requirement.
Kenya also introduced a mandatory inbound travel health insurance framework for non-Kenyan visitors in July 2026. However, the implementation was suspended by the High Court in August following a legal challenge.
Uganda’s latest clarification removes one of the documents that travellers had previously associated with entry into the country and provides greater certainty for visitors planning cross-border trips.
