As we approach the holiday season, the U.S. Mission in Kampala would like to alert U.S. citizens residing in or travelling to Uganda of petty crime that tends to rise with the holiday season, and to the continued threat of terrorist-related activity in Uganda in light of the July 11 bombings and the December 20 attack on a Uganda-bound bus in Nairobi, Kenya.

Personal Protective Measures
Incidents of petty crime in Kampala often increase during the holiday season. The U.S. Mission reminds U.S. citizens in Uganda to exercise the same levels of caution in Kampala that one would exercise in any large city. This means being alert to your surroundings, avoiding poorly-lit areas, keeping doors and windows locked, refraining from displaying jewelry or large amounts of cash, and keeping a copy of the U.S. Embassy’s telephone numbers in case of an emergency.

Ongoing Terrorist Threat
Reports indicate that the terrorists involved in the December 20 Nairobi bus attack were boarding the bus en route to Kampala. While no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, extremist organizations such as al-Shabaab remain active in the region and have warned of future attacks. U.S. citizens should avoid high-density public gatherings and remain vigilant. Please review the current guidance to resident and visiting U.S. citizens at

http://kampala.usembassy.gov/warden_message08182010.html, as well as at
http://kampala.usembassy.gov/travel_alert_europe.html for travel to Europe.

Careful reassessment of each of these areas will better prepare the members of our community for the festive season and beyond.

If you are planning to travel to or reside in Uganda, please take the time to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/. By enrolling in this program, you will receive important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in case of an emergency. You should remember to keep all of your information in STEP up-to-date. It is important during enrollment or updating of information to include your current phone number and current email address where you can be reached in case of an emergency.

The U.S. Embassy is located at Plot 1577 Ggaba Road. For after-hour emergencies, call (256) (414) 306-001 or (256) (414) 259-791, fax (256) (414) 258-451, email: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website at: http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Information can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal Holidays).

The U.S. Mission in Kampala wishes the U.S. citizen community in Uganda a peaceful and happy holiday season.

This Warden Message is to remind all U.S. citizens living in Uganda of heightened security concerns over travel in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda. These concerns are mentioned in the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Uganda.

An armed attack targeting a two-vehicle NGO convoy took place on February 12 in the Nakapiripirit district of Karamoja. The two vehicles, traveling from Nakapiripirit to Moroto, were hit by gunfire, causing three fatalities. Preliminary reports indicate that the attackers were Karamajong warriors, seen in the immediate vicinity of the attack site. Both the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces and Police are actively investigating the incident, and the U.S. Mission is closely monitoring the investigation.

The U.S. Embassy continues to restrict the travel of Embassy staff and family members to Karamoja, and is also in the process of reassessing security in the Karamoja region for all official travel. During this assessment period, in addition to current restrictions, U.S. Embassy staff traveling to Karamoja will use air charter in and out of the region when feasible, and will be required to wear ballistic vests and helmets when traveling outside major towns in Karamoja. U.S. citizens are encouraged to adopt similar precautions if travel to the area is necessary.

U.S. citizens are advised to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy in Uganda. The U.S. Embassy is located at Plot 1577 Ggaba Road. The phone number is (256) (0) (414) 306 001 or (256) (0) (414) 259 791, fax (256) (0) (414) 258 451, email: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov, and travel registration website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website at: http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Information can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling

1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal Holidays).

Recent events, such as the bombing of a United Nation (UN) compound in Mogadishu and a more recent bomb attack at a University Graduation there, highlight that Al Qaida-linked entities, such as al-Shabaab, continue to launch attacks against both "hard” and "soft” targets.

Such events and reports serve as a reminder that terrorist activity can strike anywhere, including Uganda. Furthermore, terrorists have in the past also used holidays as a timeframe for launching attacks.

Repeated below for your information is the most recent world wide caution for East Africa that was re-published by the Department of State on July 29, 2009:

A number of al-Qaida operatives and other extremists are believed to be operating in and around East Africa. As a result of the conflict in Somalia, some of these individuals may seek to relocate elsewhere in the region. Americans considering travel to the region and those already there should review their plans carefully, remain vigilant with regard to their personal security, and exercise caution. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, or targeting maritime vessels. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorists to seek softer targets such as hotels, beach resorts, prominent public places, and landmarks. In particular, terrorists and like-minded extremists may target international aid workers, civil aviation, and seaports in various locations throughout East Africa, including Somalia. On July 17, three NGO workers were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from their base in Mandera, Kenya, located on the border with Somalia. Americans in remote areas or border regions where military or police authority is limited or non-existent could also become targets.

Americans considering travel by sea near the Horn of Africa or in the southern Red Sea should exercise extreme caution, as there has been a notable increase in armed attacks, robberies, and kidnappings for ransom at sea by pirates in recent months. Merchant vessels continue to be hijacked in Somali territorial waters, while others have been hijacked as far as 300 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, Yemen, and Kenya in international waters.

U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

U.S. citizens are advised to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy in Kampala. The U.S. Embassy is located at Plot 1577 Ggaba Road. The phone number is (256) (0) (414) 306 001 or (256) (0) (414) 259 791, fax (256) (0) (414) 258 451, email: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov, and U.S. Embassy Kampala website: http://kampala.usembassy.gov . In the case of an emergency outside business hours, or during any suspension of public services, U.S. citizens may reach the embassy duty officer at the same numbers.

In response to the recent terrorist attacks in Somalia and U.S. military action resulting in the death of Saleh ali Saleh Nabhan, a leader of Al Qaeda’s East Africa operations, and the recent attack attributed to Al Shabaab against African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which included the death and injury of Ugandan soldiers, the U.S. Mission to Uganda would like to remind American citizens of the threat of terrorism against U.S. facilities, personnel, and interests in East Africa. U.S. citizens in Uganda are also reminded of the warning for East Africa that is part of the Worldwide Caution warning of the continuing threat of terrorism in the region.

Although the U.S. Mission is not aware of specific threat information related to Uganda or U.S. interests in Uganda, U.S. citizens are reminded that a number of Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab operatives and other extremists are believed to be operating in and around East Africa. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in the region should carefully review their travel plans, remain vigilant with regard to personal security, and exercise caution. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, and/or targeting maritime vessels. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorists to seek “softer” targets such as hotels, beach resorts, landmarks, and other prominent public places (i.e., shopping venues). U.S. citizens in remote areas or border regions where military or police presence is limited or non-existent could also become targets.

U.S. citizens with questions or concerns may telephone the Consular Section of the U.S. Mission to Uganda at (256) (0) (414) 306 001 or (256) (0) (414) 259 791. In case of an emergency outside business hours, or during any suspension of public services, U.S. citizens may reach the U.S. Mission duty officer at the same numbers.

U.S. citizens are advised to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Mission to Uganda. The U.S. Mission is located at Plot 1577 Ggaba Road. The phone number is (256) (0) (414) 306 001 or (256) (0) (414) 259 791, fax (256) (0) (414) 258 451, email: KampalaUSCitizen@state.gov, and travel registration website: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website at: http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and Country Specific Information can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal Holidays).

Sincerely,
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy Kampala