KAMPALA – Ugandans travelling to and through Dubai should brace themselves for longer hours at the airport after government (of Dubai) has announced new stringent measures aimed at curbing drugs and narcotics entering their country.
According to Kasujja Moses, the Head of Public Department at Uganda’s foreign affairs ministry, Ugandans have been cautioned to respect the measures to avoid being inconvenienced
In a statement, Kasujja said that upon arrival, all travellers must declare to the Dubai Customs Officials possessions including; narcotics of any kind, trees, plants and soils, fireworks and explosives, medicines of all kinds even for personal use as well as weapons, ammunition and military equipment.
Others include; gifts of commercial value exceeding AED 3,000, films, books, photographs, visual and compact disks even for personal use and cash money inclusive of all currencies and travel cheques above AED100,000,
Domestic pets and skins of endangered animals subject to CITES Convention as well as radios, striking appliances, self-defence equipment and sharp-edged knives and swords are all part of the new measures.
According to a statement by Kawooya, failure to declare any of these will be treated as smuggling, an offence which is punishable by the laws of the United Arabs Emirates.
“The ministry, therefore, advises all travellers to strictly observe the above measures in order not to be inconvenienced while in UAE” Kasujja adds in a statement.
Millions of Ugandans travel to and through Dubai every year.
Tens of thousands of Ugandan youths are employed in the UAE and this will affect them the most.
Recent reports indicate that UAE has in custody a number of Ugandans including socialist SK Mbuga held over smuggling and drug passion related cases
