Ugandans applying for United States B-1/B-2 visitor visas (tourism and business) will now be required to post a visa bond of between Shs18 million and Shs54 million before their applications can proceed.

The new requirement, announced by the US Department of State, will take effect on January 21, 2026, and applies to Ugandan nationals seeking non-immigrant visitor visas.

The measure is part of a 12-month visa bond pilot programme introduced by the Department of State to reduce the number of foreign nationals who overstay their visas.

Under the programme, Ugandan applicants may be required to post a bond of $5,000,$10,000, or $15,000, approximately Shs18 million, Shs36 million, and Shs54 million respectively,  at the discretion of a US consular officer.

Applicants who are otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 visa will be informed during their visa interview whether they must post the bond. Those instructed to do so will receive a direct link to make payment online through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov system. The bond amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The Department of State has cautioned that payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance. Applicants are advised to pay only after receiving official instructions; otherwise, “the fees will not be returned”, the advisory states.

As a condition of the bond, successful applicants must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry, including Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Failure to comply may complicate adherence to the bond terms and affect eligibility for a refund.

The bond will be automatically cancelled and refunded if the visa holder departs the United States on or before the end of their authorised stay, does not travel on the visa, or is denied admission at the port of entry.

However, US authorities say that if a traveller overstays their permitted period, applies to adjust to another immigration status, or fails to depart on time, the Department of Homeland Security may refer the case to US Citizenship and Immigration Services to determine whether the bond conditions have been breached.

Uganda and Tanzania are currently the only East African countries affected by the visa bond policy.

Other African countries, including Malawi and Zambia, were incorporated into the pilot programme from mid-2025. Nationals from these countries are also required to post bonds ranging from Shs18 million to Shs54 million when applying for similar US visitor visas.

The governments of the affected countries have yet to issue detailed public responses. However, travel agents warn that the policy will significantly increase the cost of visiting the United States and create “greater uncertainty for ordinary travellers”.

While attention in East Africa has focused on Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, the list of countries subject to the visa bond requirement has expanded to dozens across Africa, Asia and Latin America. These include Bangladesh, Nigeria, Senegal, Venezuela, Cuba and several small island states.

US authorities defend the measure as necessary to reduce visa overstay rates, though critics argue it risks pricing ordinary travellers out of lawful visits and could strain diplomatic relations.

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The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), representing 121 member states and chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda has condemned alleged acts of aggression by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The statement was delivered on behalf of NAM by the Ugandan delegation at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on January 5, 2026, addressing threats to international peace and security.

“The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) categorically condemns the act of aggression perpetrated by the United States of America against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, since the early hours of 03 January 2026, which included armed attacks against civilian and military locations in the capital city of Caracas, as well as in various other cities of the Venezuelan territory,” the joint statement read.

According to NAM, the attacks violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law, amounting to an act of war that threatens both regional and global stability.

“The attacks in question… constitute an act of war against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that undermines both regional and international peace, security and stability, while also threatening the very right to life of the Venezuelan people,” the statement added.

The 121-member bloc demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and called for full respect of Venezuela’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and inalienable right to self-determination.

“The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) demands the immediate cessation of all hostilities against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and inalienable right to self-determination of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and that those responsible for these ongoing acts of aggression be held accountable,” the statement read in part.

The joint statement also emphasized the importance of respecting the immunities and protections afforded to Heads of State and Government under international law.

“The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) reaffirms the inviolability of the immunities accorded to Heads of State and Government under international law, which constitute a fundamental pillar of sovereign equality, peaceful coexistence, and stable international relations,” the statement said.

NAM further expressed solidarity with the people and government of Venezuela, cautioning that military solutions cannot resolve international disputes.

“The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) reiterates its full solidarity with the People and Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at this critical time and insists that military solutions are not viable avenues for addressing any issue that may be of concern between members of the international community,” the statement concluded.

The Security Council session was convened amid conflicting reports regarding the status of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, following the alleged attacks. Some media outlets and opposition sources claimed he had been detained or placed under arrest, though these reports have been denied by the Venezuelan government, which maintains that Maduro remains in power.

President Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013 has repeatedly accused the United States of seeking regime change through sanctions, political interference and covert operations. His administration insists that any action against him violates international law and the country’s sovereignty.

NAM, under Museveni’s chairmanship, has urged dialogue, restraint, and adherence to international law and warned that escalation could have far-reaching consequences beyond Venezuela and the wider Latin American region.

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The National Drug Authority [NDA] has approved the use of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention (PrEP) injection manufactured by Gilead Sciences, a U.S.-based company.

The approval is a game-changer for HIV prevention in Uganda, especially for people at high risk of infection. It marks a significant step toward ending AIDS by 2030.

This development comes barely six months after the United States Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approved long-acting injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention.

The new medicine is administered by injection once every six months and represents a major improvement in prevention options for people at risk of HIV infection worldwide.

In an interview, Gilead Sciences announced a U.S. list price of $28,218 [about Shs101,574,641] per person per year.

However, a research paper published this week in The Lancet HIV found that generic lenacapavir could cost between $35 [Shs12,598] and $46 [Shs165,583] per person per year. The cost could fall further to $25 [Shs89,991] per person per year if there is committed demand of five to ten million people within the first year, bringing the price in line with—or even lower than—current oral PrEP.

Responding to news of lenacapavir’s FDA approval, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, said: “This is a breakthrough moment. The approval of lenacapavir is a testament to decades of public investment, scientific excellence, and the contributions of trial participants and communities.”

“I congratulate Gilead and U.S. partners for advancing this important innovation. Lenacapavir could be the tool we need to bring new infections under control but only if it is priced affordably and made available to everyone who could benefit,” she added.

“UNAIDS has seen research showing that lenacapavir can be produced for just $40 per person per year, falling to US$ 25 within a year of rollout. It is beyond comprehension how Gilead can justify a price of $28,218. If this game-changing medicine remains unaffordable, it will change nothing. I urge Gilead to do the right thing: drop the price, expand production, and ensure the world has a real chance at ending AIDS.”

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