Uganda and US officials pose for photos after the press conference today, 16th March 2026
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Embassy of the United States in Kampala has announced that at least 43 individuals have been arrested since July 2025 for presenting false documents while applying for U.S. visas.
According to officials, the fraudulent documents were detected during routine visa verification processes. The applicants involved were immediately denied visas and permanently barred from entering the United States.
The revelation was made during a joint press briefing between the Uganda Police Force and the U.S. Embassy aimed at addressing growing cases of visa-related fraud affecting Ugandans seeking travel opportunities abroad.
Speaking at the briefing, the embassy’s Senior Regional Security Officer, James Bloomer, urged Ugandans to follow the official visa application process and avoid using intermediaries.
“We encourage the people of Uganda who want to visit the United States to apply for visas. The U.S. is open for business. We welcome people traveling for tourism and business,” Bloomer said.
He stressed that applying for a visa is a process that only involves the applicant and the embassy.
“You do not need to hire somebody to help you acquire a visa. Some of the people you might hire may not give you the right information,” he warned.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said many Ugandans have been falling victim to fraudsters posing as visa “fixers” or intermediaries.
“These criminals present themselves as officers from government agencies, ministries, NGOs, banks and telecom companies,” Rusoke said.
He added that the fraudsters often target people unfamiliar with official procedures, those in urgent situations, and individuals looking for shortcuts to travel abroad.
Authorities warned the public to always verify information through official channels and report suspected fraud cases to the police.
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