Uganda has put an end to the mandatory yellow fever requirement for travellers entering the country.

The Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

The ministry was responding to a request from the Uganda Tourism Board seeking clarification on whether travellers were still required to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination when entering the country.

“Accordingly, travellers to Uganda do not require a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for entry,” the ministry said.

The statement also noted that the yellow fever vaccination certificate was not listed among the requirements on Uganda’s e-visa application portal.

The development means that travellers, including Nigerians, are no longer required to carry a yellow fever vaccination card as a condition for entry into Uganda.

The change came amid efforts by East African countries to introduce or review different health-related requirements for international travellers.

Uganda introduced its strict nationwide mandatory yellow fever vaccination card requirement for all travellers entering and leaving the country in late May 2024.

It was announced to compel more local residents and citizens to get vaccinated amid high local vaccine hesitancy.

The requirement coincided with a massive nationwide free yellow fever vaccination drive targeting 14 million people aged 1 to 60 as part of the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics.