U.S. Cuts African Visa Processing Sites From Nearly 50 to 20, Retains Kampala as Regional Hub

U.S. visas after the State Department selected it as one of 20 hubs across Africa. The decision forms part of a restructuring by the administration of President Donald Trump that cuts the number of African embassies and consulates handling visas from nearly 50 to 20.

An internal State Department memo, first reported by The Associated Press, lists the remaining hubs as Kampala, Nairobi, Kigali, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra and Addis Ababa. The memo states the consolidation aims to centralise consular operations and tighten immigration controls.

U.S. Diplomatic missions in East Africa and the embassy in Kampala handles substantial visa demand. These factors supported Kampala's retention under the new structure. Several European governments have already moved visa and migration processing away from smaller missions.

Norway closed its embassy in Kampala on July 31, 2024, and now routes all visa applications from Uganda through its embassy in Nairobi. Sweden has centralised much of its migration processing through Nairobi while keeping its embassy in Kampala open for other consular services.

U.S. Changes align with this pattern of fewer, larger centres. Analysts note that Nairobi has become a regional hub for multiple Western governments, raising questions about whether Kampala's current status will remain stable or shift in future rounds of consolidation. For now, visa processing for Ugandan applicants continues in Kampala.

The embassy's role in regional peacekeeping and security cooperation, including counterterrorism operations, also factors into its selection as a hub.