By Bicholin K Musisi;

When U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp stepped-up to address the press at the American Centre in Kampala on Feb. 5, he was carrying a message that blended diplomacy with warning.

The United States, he said, values its strong partnership with Uganda, rooted in people-to-people ties that see thousands of Ugandans travel to America each year for tourism, business, study and family visits. But that openness now comes with tougher expectations, he said.

“The Trump Administration continues to put America and its interests first by fully enforcing U.S immigration laws and ensuring lawful travel through our visa process,” he said. A non-immigrant visa, he stressed, is a privilege granted for a specific purpose, not a right. It allows a visitor to stay only for an authorized period and only to carry out the activity stated in the application.

Behind the diplomatic language lies a significant policy shift that directly affects Ugandans hoping to travel to the United States. Since July 2025, business and tourist visas issued to Ugandan citizens have been limited to a single entry and are now valid for just three months. Then, on Jan.21, 2026, Uganda was added to an expanded Visa Bond pilot program . Under this measure, Ugandans who qualify for B-1 or B-2 visas for business or tourism must now post a refundable bond of up to US$15,000 (Approx. Shs 54 million) before their visa is issued.

The bond is returned once the traveler enters the United States, complies with the terms of the visa, and departs on time. But it may be forfeited if the visitor overstays, breaks U.S. laws, or attempts to change status. At the same time, the U.S. Department of State temporarily paused the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Uganda, also effective Jan. 21.

While applications and interviews continue, new immigrant visas are not being issued during this review period. Previously issued immigrant visas remain valid, and the pause does not affect non-immigrant categories such as students, tourists, business travelers or skilled workers. U.S. officials insist the measures are not punitive, nor discriminatory. Instead, they say, they are driven by data and national security concerns.

“The two issues, they’re integrated,” Ambassador Popp explained. Border protection and immigration compliance, he said, are inseparable from national security. “Every sovereign nation wants to know who is visiting, how long they are staying, what they are doing, and when they are leaving. Gaps in that system, especially when people enter for one purpose and stay for another, or fail to depart at all, are treated as security risks.”

A bond designed to enforce compliance

Consular Section Chief, Tania Romanoff, laid out the mechanics of the new bond requirement in blunt terms. Applicants must not pay any bond before their visa interview, she warned, citing fears of scams. Only after a consular officer determines that an applicant qualifies for a B-1/B-2 visa will the bond amount be communicated. Travelers then have up to 30 days to pay, or may delay payment closer to their travel date if their trip is scheduled later.

Once a visitor departs the United States, whether returning to Uganda or travelling elsewhere, the bond is refunded within 30 days. But there are clear red lines. The bond is not returned if the traveler overstays beyond their authorized period, violates U.S. laws, or seeks to change status, even on their first visit.

Romanoff also underscored that entry into the United States does not guarantee a fixed length of stay. That decision is made by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry, who informs the traveler how long they are authorized to remain. Visitors can verify this information online through the I-94 system.

Misusing a visa carries severe consequences while providing false information during an application or interview can result in permanent ineligibility to travel to the United States and possible criminal prosecution in Uganda or the U.S. Those who overstay risk deportation and long-term bans on future travel.

As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned, violators of U.S. law, including international students, may face visa denial or revocation and removal from the country. While the bond can reach US$15,000, U.S. officials acknowledged that many Ugandans may not have such sums readily available. Romanoff noted that the sponsors of Ugandan travelers including; family members, churches, or business partners in the United States may pay the bond on the travelers' behalf.