Government warns travellers on fake e-visa, releases rates
The Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Jacob Siminyu. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- In 2016 government introduced e-Visa application with the aim of cutting the red tape and attracting more investments into the country. While launching the system, ICT Minister, Frank Tumwebaze, said the e-visa system would save time.
Kampala. The government has warned travellers against a scam website https://www.evisaforuganda.com/index which they said fraudulently claims to be an application portal for electronic visas (e-Visas) to Uganda and charge unsuspecting applicants way beyond the official fees charged on official government e-visa portal www.visas.immigration.go.ug.
Addressing a news conference in Kampala yesterday, the acting director for Citizens and Immigration Control, Mr Mercellino Bwesigye, announced official e-visa rates and the authorised Ministry of Internal Affairs online visa website.
“We would like to warn our esteemed clients of the existence of scam sites which either charge our clients exorbitantly or defraud them totally. We have released the correct rates and government will not be responsible for the loss of money. We shall also apprehend all those reported for fraudulently issuing passports,” Mr Bwesigye said.
The official website, www.visas.immigration.go.ug provides for applications for different visas.
For instance, diplomatic visa for diplomatic and official passport Holders at ($0.0) , Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa at ($50), East Africa Tourist Visa at ($100), Transit at ($50) and Multiple-Entry Visas at ($100) for six and twelve months and ($150) for 24 months.
Other facilities on the official site include entry/work permits, dependant passes, student passes, special passes and certificates of residence. And we are in the process of including different forms of citizenship.
Mr Bwesigye explained that processing a visa would take someone anywhere between two to three working days without any additional charges.
The red alert came after several complaints to the ministry involving people who were defrauded by those claiming to be immigration officials. The fraudsters created fake online portals.
The internal affairs spokesperson, Mr Jacob Simunyu, said it’s their duty to tell Ugandans the official website and incase one encounters unofficial portal requests, they may reach out to the immigration office.
