Uganda is among 36 countries reportedly under consideration for new US travel restrictions, according to a confidential US State Department memo published by The Washington Post.
The memo is part of a broader plan by President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten immigration controls through an expanded travel ban.
Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and dated Saturday, the memo gives targeted countries a 60-day window to comply with specific US security and identity verification benchmarks or face visa bans–either full or partial.
Uganda joins 25 African countries on the list, which also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, as well as nations in the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific.
According to the memo, the US is concerned about issues such as weak civil documentation systems, high rates of visa overstays, and the availability of citizenship through investment without long-term residency requirements.
Additional justification in the memo includes allegations of individuals from some countries engaging in antisemitic or anti-American activities while in the US.
If the proposed restrictions are enacted, Ugandans may face increased difficulty obtaining US visas.
This could significantly affect groups who regularly travel to the US for health, education, or economic reasons.
Each year, a portion of Uganda’s political and business elite travel to the US to access specialised medical care that is either unavailable or underdeveloped in local facilities.
American hospitals are also preferred by many for advanced diagnostics, maternal care, and cancer treatment.
Similarly, the US remains a top destination for higher education among Ugandan students, particularly for postgraduate programmes and scholarships.
Visa restrictions could limit access to these opportunities and increase dependence on institutions in Canada, the UK, or Asia.
Ugandans also travel to the US for professional conferences, family visits, tourism, and trade-related activities.
In recent years, bilateral engagements between Kampala and Washington have included military cooperation, development assistance, and public health initiatives, many of which involve exchange visits and technical training.
The memo requires countries to submit an action plan by Wednesday at 8 a.m. (1200 GMT), addressing identified gaps in passport security, data-sharing practices, and border control procedures.
The proposed action follows a June 4 presidential proclamation that reinstated full travel bans on 13 countries and partial restrictions on seven more.
The Trump administration’s latest move could be one of the largest visa policy expansions in US history.
Other African countries named in the memo include Liberia, Malawi, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe.
The scope and timeline of enforcement remain unclear, but countries that fail to meet US demands may soon face new barriers to travel and visa access.
Last week, the US slapped total travel ban for citizens of 12 countries including Somalia and Sudan, while seven other nations – including Burundi – were listed on partial ban.
