By Aggrey Baba
Uganda is once again facing the heat from the United States, after Donald Trump listed it among 25 African countries that could face tough new travel restrictions if it fails to meet fresh immigration and security demands within 60 days.
According to The Washington Post recent publication, the decision, issued under a new directive by President Donald Trump, is targeting countries that are accused of failing to repatriate deported nationals, not cooperating with US immigration enforcement and showing weakness in intelligence-sharing on terrorism.
A statement from the White House dated June 5, 2025, said the proposed restrictions are necessary “to garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws and advance other important foreign policy, national security and counter-terrorism objectives.”
Trump, in an earlier proclamation issued on June 4, warned that the move is meant to protect the nation from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats from entry into the United States.
Uganda is among the countries USA accuses of either refusing or delaying to receive its deported citizens, failing to vet travelers properly and having high visa overstay rates.
The latest warning comes at a time when relations between the two countries are already strained following a string of sanctions, aid freezes and visa bans slapped on top Ugandan officials.
In January this year, Trump signed an Executive Order, which resulted in an immediate freeze of USAID programmes in Uganda. This affected major development and governance initiatives, including education, agriculture, civil society support and health services.
The most affected was Uganda’s HIV response programme under PEPFAR, which had for years bankrolled over 80% of the country’s HIV and AIDS care provision. Clinics across the country are now grappling with shortages of antiretrovirals, limited testing kits and a collapse of community outreach for key populations.
Local organizations have warned that condom distribution has already dropped, and the national HIV prevention campaign is beginning to show cracks. The Uganda AIDS Commission recently revealed it needs an additional UGX 300 billion to bridge the gap left by the US aid freeze.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s refugee operations are also in crisis. Following funding shortfalls, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced a total halt in food aid to nearly one million refugees hosted in Uganda.
With over 1.8 million refugees on its soil, Uganda now risks rising malnutrition, school dropouts, and unrest in camps like Bidi Bidi, Nakivale and Kyangwali.
Over the past year, the US government has issued targeted visa bans against more than 300 top Ugandan officials, including Speaker Anita Among, several ministers, MPs and senior security personnel linked to alleged corruption, human rights abuses, and the passing of the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Law.
Former IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura, was among the first to be slapped with financial sanctions in 2019, a move that signaled the start of U.S.A’s harder stance.
Over 30,000 Ugandans live in the US, forming one of the largest and most active diaspora communities. Many are studying, working in health and tech, or sending back remittances that help support families and build homes.
But with the new threat of visa restrictions looming, their future has suddenly become uncertain.
As the 60-day countdown begins, Uganda is caught between a rock and a hard place, with the need to protect its sovereignty and avoid being seen as submissive to Western pressure, and on the other hand, the cost of continued diplomatic isolation may prove too high for ordinary citizens to bear.
If the visa bans are confirmed, Ugandans seeking to travel to the US for study, business, treatment or family reunions may find the door slammed in their face. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
