A single joint travel visa in East Africa scheduled for launch Jan. 1 in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda has been postponed, according to eTurboNews.
It is uncertain when the new common visa will go into effect.
Despite months of preparation, none of the three countries was prepared to launch Jan. 1, the report said. A similar delay affected citizens of the three countries who attempted to travel using their national ID cards, according to a report from Entebbe International Airport.
All systems were ready for launch, according to a December meeting in Rwanda. Rwanda was tasked to take the lead in preparing for the introduction of the single tourist visa, eTurboNews reports.
Local tourism stakeholders were angry and disappointed about the postponement after publishing on their websites that the common visa would be effective Jan. 1. Many had encouraged their clients to come to Uganda but also visit Rwanda and Kenya at the same time.
“This may leave my company exposed to a claim of $50 dollars each
client,” one Entebbe tourist business owner said. “I told them they buy their $100 dollar visa in Entebbe and then no longer bother to get a visa for Rwanda and
Kenya.”
Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya, dubbed the “Coalition of the Willing,” broke ranks with fellow East African Community partners Tanzania and Burundi over the introduction of a single visa.
The $100 single tourist visa ensures entry into the three countries, according to CoastWeek.
The visa will be valid for 90 days and can be bought at the point of entry in a member country.
