Uganda withholds Taiwanese passports citing One China principle

Ugandan immigration authorities have reportedly withheld the passports of Taiwanese travelers at Entebbe International Airport, citing the ‘One China precept’. According to the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), three Taiwanese nationals arrived at the airport on Wednesday and were permitted entry, but officials refused to return their Taiwanese passports unless they provided Chinese passports to receive entry stamps.

This incident follows previous cases where Taiwanese nationals faced similar issues at the same airport, including one individual who was denied entry and deported. While MOFA noted that Uganda has not formally announced changes to its visa or entry requirements for Taiwanese citizens, the ministry expressed serious concern regarding these developments.

In response, Taiwan’s MOFA has issued a travel advisory urging citizens to carefully evaluate the necessity and potential risks of traveling to Uganda, suggesting a suspension of travel to the country for the time being. The ministry’s representative office in Somaliland, which manages affairs related to Uganda, and the Taiwanese business association in Uganda are providing assistance to the affected individuals.