The United States Embassy in Kampala has temporarily paused issuance of visa services includes applications for immigrant visas as well as non-immigrant visas for tourists, business travelers, students, exchange visitors, and all other non-immigrant categories, due to the outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.
The pronouncement was made in the Embassy’s social media handle on 18th May 2026, further revealing that the affected parties had been notified, although no specific time was given on when the services will resume.
“Effective May 18, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has temporarily paused all visa services. This pause includes applications for immigrant visas as well as non-immigrant visas for tourists, business travelers, students, exchange visitors, and all other non-immigrant categories. Affected visa applicants have been notified. We will update our website when appointment scheduling resumes and inform applicants whose appointments were rescheduled,” as noted by the Embassy.
The United States Government also attempted to respond to some of the questions it anticipated would be asked including whether the visa interview dates that had already been rescheduled would take place.
“At this time, no visa appointments can be scheduled at U.S. Embassy Kampala, Uganda. We will update our website when appointment scheduling resumes and inform applicants directly when they can reschedule,” the embassy said.
The United States also defended its decision to postpone Visa services arguing that the Department of State is committed to ensuring that its visa process upholds the highest standards for U.S. public health and safety. In light of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Department is temporarily pausing all visa operations at U.S. Embassy Kampala, and it also assured Ugandans that the latest pronouncement doesn’t affect their current valid visa.
The United States also clarified that there won’t be a refund made if the existing appointment is affected by the pause, saying instead, when services are opened, these interviews will be rescheduled.
“No. Appointment scheduling will resume after the pause is lifted. At that time, appointments affected by the pause will be rescheduled, and the applicants will be notified. Nonimmigrant visa application fees are valid for 365 days from the date of receipt issuance for applicants to schedule their interview appointments. The interview appointment itself may occur later than the 365-day cutoff date, as long as the scheduling is completed within 365 days,” as noted by the United States.
The development comes at the time when yesterday, President Museveni announced the postponement of Martyrs Day celebrations on 6th June 2026, due to the security risk that would be posed by movement of pilgrims from DRC, Kenya, Burundi and other parts of the country.
The President’s directive followed a revelation by Ministry of Health that Uganda had registered one case of Ebola, that resulted into death at Kibuli Hospital of one man that had travelled from DRC, where the first case was reported.
On 15 May 2026, the Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of BVD following the identification of an imported case from the DRC, which was of an elderly man who was admitted to a private hospital on 11 May with severe symptoms and died on 14 May. A second imported case was confirmed on 16th May 2026 in Kampala, of an individual returning from DRC with no apparent links to the first case and Uganda hasn’t reported any local transmission.
According to the World Health Organisation, as of 15 May 2026, a total of 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been registered, and most of the suspected cases are between 20 and 39 years old, with females accounting for over 60%, suggesting significant risks associated with household and caregiver transmission.
