Kampala Among 20 African Cities Keeping US Visa Services

Travelers in Uganda just got some reassuring news: Kampala will continue processing US visas even as America dramatically scales back its footprint across Africa.

The US State Department is reducing the number of African embassies and consulates handling visas from nearly 50 down to just 20 strategic hubs. Kampala made the cut alongside major cities like Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, and Accra.

For Ugandans planning trips to America, this means no disruption to their visa applications. They won't need to travel to neighboring countries or navigate complex regional processing centers.

The decision reflects Uganda's importance as a US partner in East Africa. The country hosts one of America's largest diplomatic missions in the region and plays a significant role in peacekeeping and security cooperation.

This stands in contrast to what's happened with several European countries. Norway closed its Kampala embassy last year and now handles visa applications through Nairobi. Sweden similarly shifted migration processing to Kenya, though its embassy in Kampala remains open.

The broader trend among Western governments has been moving toward fewer, larger processing centers that serve multiple countries. This regionalization saves money and concentrates resources, but it can create travel headaches for applicants.

The Bright Side

Kampala's inclusion shows that strategic partnerships and operational capacity still matter when countries make these decisions. Uganda's substantial visa demand and the embassy's strong staffing capabilities helped secure its position in this more selective network.

The 20 remaining African hubs will continue serving the continent's nearly 1.5 billion people. While that's fewer access points than before, the selected cities are distributed across regions to maintain reasonable geographic coverage.

For East Africa specifically, having both Kampala and Nairobi as processing centers gives travelers options and reduces the burden on any single location. Dar es Salaam and Kigali also made the list, strengthening the region's visa infrastructure.

The consolidation may actually improve processing times at the remaining hubs as the State Department concentrates resources and staff. Applicants in Kampala could benefit from more robust support and potentially faster decisions.

Ugandans can continue accessing US visa services right at home, a convenience that many African travelers no longer enjoy.