Kampala, Uganda – The United States Embassy in Uganda has announced that its official X (formerly Twitter) account will be used only for urgent safety and security updates, following a partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government that began at midnight in Washington (7:00 am EAT).
The shutdown, the first since 2019, was triggered by Congress’s failure to agree on a funding bill. At the centre of the deadlock is healthcare, with Democrats insisting on extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act for 22 million low-income Americans, while Republicans opposed the move, citing fiscal concerns.
As a result, about 800,000 federal workers in the U.S. are facing temporary suspension from work, and several government services have been disrupted. The U.S. Embassy in Kampala clarified, however, that passport and visa services will continue worldwide “as the situation permits.” Ugandans were advised to check the State Department’s travel website for the latest updates.
In Washington, the shutdown has once again exposed deep partisan divisions. The White House and Congressional Republicans traded blame, each accusing the other of irresponsibility. Meanwhile, Americans are already feeling the pinch, with national parks, museums, and other public services expected to close, though essential staff such as air traffic controllers and security officers will remain on duty without pay.
For Uganda, the impact is largely limited to reduced embassy communication and uncertainty for those seeking U.S. visas. Still, the episode has sparked wide debate locally, with some Ugandans questioning the stability of American governance, while others took it as a reminder that even the world’s biggest economies are not immune to financial gridlock.
With no clear breakthrough in sight, the U.S. Congress remains locked in negotiations, and the embassy has urged patience from Ugandans as it navigates the effects of the shutdown.
