The United States Embassy in Uganda will close on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
In a message posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the embassy said normal operations would resume on Thursday, June 20, at 7:30am.
The closure reflects America’s ongoing efforts to honour its complex past while promoting the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity.
Juneteenth — short for “June Nineteenth” — marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved African Americans were free. This came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although that proclamation had been issued in 1863, it had little practical effect in Confederate states like Texas until Union forces asserted control.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, officially recognising what African American communities had celebrated for generations.
For Africans and members of the diaspora, Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of the shared legacy of displacement through the transatlantic slave trade.
It offers a moment to reflect on resilience, celebrate cultural identity, and recommit to the pursuit of justice and reconciliation.
On the African continent and in diplomatic circles such as the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Juneteenth is increasingly observed as a symbol of cultural diplomacy — a day to foster deeper ties and dialogue between Africa and African-descended communities worldwide.
In the United States, Juneteenth is celebrated with parades, music, educational events, and community gatherings that honour African American history and achievements.
Traditional foods such as barbecue, red drinks, and soul food feature prominently, as do calls for racial equity, economic justice, and community empowerment.
As the embassy joins Americans in marking this historic day, it sends a broader message: the fight for freedom anywhere resonates everywhere — and the echoes of emancipation continue to shape conversations across continents.