The US Embassy in Uganda has raised concern about increasing cases of visa fraud, revealing that at least 43 people have been charged in court over fraudulent attempts to obtain visas.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, James V. Bloomer, the senior regional security officer at the embassy, said the cases were recorded between July 2025 and now.
Bloomer said the embassy continues to encounter many applicants who try to obtain visas using fake documents or through middlemen who promise to influence the process.
He urged Ugandans to follow the proper visa application procedures and warned that shortcuts often lead to criminal charges.
“Stop using middlemen, submitting fake documents or paying what some people call visa bonds. These things will not help you get a visa,” Bloomer said.
He advised members of the public to use the official embassy website when applying for visas and to follow the correct procedures provided there.
Bloomer added that the United States remains open to Ugandans who genuinely wish to travel there, but stressed that the visa process must be followed honestly.
“As the US, we are committed to working with Ugandans who genuinely want to travel to America. Visa fees are strictly set by our headquarters in Washington DC and cannot be changed by individuals,” he said.
At the same briefing, the spokesperson of the Uganda Police Force, Kituuma Rusoke, said visa fraud reflects a wider problem of fraud affecting several government agencies.
Rusoke said criminals often target people seeking quicker services in offices such as the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
He noted that fraudsters convince victims to pay large sums of money in exchange for promises of faster services.
“People should avoid shortcuts and quick deals. That is how impostors take advantage of them and extort money,” Rusoke said.
