The United States Department of State has maintained its highest travel warning for Uganda, placing the country among destinations classified as Level 4, or “Do Not Travel”, alongside North Korea and 20 other countries.
In a post on November 9, the State Department’s travel information account, TravelGov, listed Uganda among countries under the Level 4 advisory, which urges American citizens not to travel to the affected destinations.
The department said Level 4 warnings are issued based on local security conditions and/or the US government’s limited ability to assist American citizens in those countries.
“These places are dangerous. Do not go for ANY reason,” TravelGov said in the post.
Other countries on the list include Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Uganda’s advisory was last updated on June 4, 2026, when the State Department retained the Level 4 classification without changing its status. The department identified four risk indicators: crime, health, terrorism and civil unrest.
The classification was raised from Level 3 to Level 4 on May 17, following an outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly Ituri Province.
However, Uganda subsequently declared itself Ebola-free on July 28, after the Ministry of Health confirmed that the last patient had been discharged on June 16.
The outbreak had affected 20 people, with 18 recovering and two dying, according to the Ministry of Health.
The continued advisory has raised questions about its implications for Uganda’s tourism industry, which depends heavily on international visitors for wildlife safaris, mountain gorilla trekking and other attractions.
Uganda Wildlife Authority figures show that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park had 459 mountain gorillas according to the 2018 census. A new census has since been completed, with results awaiting release.
The country’s tourism stakeholders have also pointed to Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Kenya and Tanzania as evidence of its international tourism and events ambitions.
The Level 4 classification does not mean Uganda has been ranked as equally dangerous as North Korea or that the countries share the same security circumstances. It is the highest category in the US travel advisory system, which assesses individual destinations according to risks to American travellers and the US government’s ability to provide assistance.
The other countries on the November 9 list include Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Lebanon, Mali, Niger, Ukraine and Yemen.
The State Department advises American citizens to consult its official travel advisory website before making international travel arrangements.
