By Mubiru Ivan
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has said many Ugandans are eager to go to Israel but fail to make it due unfavorable visa restrictions of the Middle Eastern country.
Now, he has called upon Israel to ease on the restrictions to enable locals visit the holy land which he said would promote the country’s tourism potential.
“Our visa conditions sometimes are difficult because one has to keep getting a visa before they go to Israel. We need a move from the Embassy in Kenya for a reciprocal arrangement for Ugandans to make it to Israel,” said Oulanyah.
He hinted on the no-visa policy accorded to Malawi by Israel that followed former Malawi President, Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s directive not to cut ties with Israel despite international pressure at the time.
Oulanyah said this while meeting the Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles and Malawi , Eyal Davidwho paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Speaker and MPs early this week.
The Deputy Speaker also reiterated MPs appreciation of Israel’s technological advancement in agricultural management which he said Ugandan farmers could emulate so as to improve on their farm yields even during dry seasons.
“You have pioneered water use and water management. In Uganda, we have not yet mastered how to make the dry and rainy seasons complement each other. Our farmers can learn how to perfect this through exchange visits,” he noted.
