The United States is keeping Uganda under its highest travel warning, advising American citizens against visiting the East African country despite the official declaration that its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ended several months ago.
On November 9, 2026, the US State Department’s TravelGov account included Uganda in a reminder highlighting countries currently classified under its Level 4 travel advisory, the highest warning issued by the American government.
Uganda appeared on the list alongside Iran, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Level 4 advisory means Americans are urged not to travel to the affected countries because of identified safety and security risks.
Uganda has been under the warning since May 17, 2026, with the US State Department maintaining the classification in its June 4 advisory update.
The American government identifies several concerns behind its decision, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest and health risks. It also warns that its ability to provide emergency consular assistance to American citizens in Uganda is limited.
Among the security issues highlighted are armed robberies, limited police resources and the possibility of attacks in public places, including areas frequented by tourists.
However, one major development since the warning was introduced has been Uganda’s successful response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.
The United States raised Uganda’s travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 4 in May following the outbreak, which was linked to neighbouring DR Congo.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health officially declared the outbreak over on July 28, 2026.
The announcement was subsequently welcomed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on August 27, following 42 days without a newly confirmed case after the last patient was discharged.
In October, Uganda’s Ministry of Health reported that no additional confirmed Ebola cases had been recorded in the country. However, officials cautioned that transmission was still ongoing across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Despite the progress in containing Ebola domestically, Uganda remains under the American government’s highest travel advisory.
The continued warning means the US position is not based solely on the Ebola outbreak. Crime, terrorism, civil unrest and the potential difficulties American citizens could face when seeking emergency assistance also remain central concerns in the advisory.
For Uganda, the development highlights the difference between ending a public health emergency and addressing the broader security concerns that influence international travel advisories.