LONDON – Ugandans and all other people seeking to work in the United Kingdom (UK) will be required to have a job offer whose salary is over £25,600 (Shs120m).
They will also be required to be highly skilled and speak English to a certain level in order to get a work visa.
These requirements are contained in their new Immigration Bill, which was drafted last month after the UK left the European Union.
According to the new immigration rules, migrants will have to score 70 points to be eligible for a visa. The points are awarded on one’s ability to create a high wage, high skill and high productivity in the UK.
Visitors, including EU citizens, will be also still be able to come to the UK without a visa for six months – but they cannot work during this time.
The UK government says the move is intended to retain skilled immigrants such as scientists, engineers and academics and restrict non-skilled staff.
“UK businesses should adjust to the end of free movement… it is important that employers move away from a reliance on the UK’s immigration system as an alternative to investment in staff retention,” the government says.
All EU citizens currently living in the UK will have to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 in order to be allowed to stay in the country.
The 2011 UK Census recorded 59,227 Ugandan-born residents in England, 588 in Wales, 986 in Scotland, and 82 in Northern Ireland. The Office for National Statistics estimates that in 2014, 51,000 people born in Uganda were resident in the UK.