Please note: The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
In certain circumstances, when primary evidence submitted in support of a U.S. citizenship or immigration case is deemed insufficient to establish the claimed biological relationship, genetic testing may be suggested to applicants as an alternative way to provide credible evidence of the claimed relationship.
U.S. regulations require that all DNA testing conducted in support of a U.S. citizenship or immigration case be conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
The official list of laboratories is published on the AABB web page, which can be found at www.aabb.org/dna. The cost of the testing and all related expenses, including express mailing costs, are borne exclusively by the applicant and must be paid in advance.
Requesting DNA Kits
In order to submit DNA evidence to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy Kampala, or in order to obtain DNA evidence per the request of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) the applicant must first contact a genetic testing laboratory in the United States accredited by AABB. The applicant or their sponsor contracts the laboratory to conduct the requested DNA testing, and makes payment for the service directly to the laboratory.
The laboratory should then send a buccal swab collection kit(s) to the U.S. Embassy Kampala at the following international courier address. The packages should include a pre-paid courier envelope so that the specimens may be returned to the laboratory in the United States. Please also ensure that local contact information for the individual(s) to be tested is included.
International Courier Address:
U.S. Embassy Kampala
Plot 1577 Ggaba Road
Kampala, Uganda
Attn: Consular Section
Specimen Collection
The Consular Section will coordinate an appointment date and time for specimen collection at the U.S. Embassy. The specimens will then be returned to the genetic testing lab in the United States for analysis. If the case pertains to a U.S. citizenship or immigration case being adjudicated at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, the laboratory should send an original copy of the results to Consular Section via the international courier address. Once received, the Consular Section will then proceed with the adjudication of the case.
The U.S. Embassy schedules DNA testing weekly, and collection appointments are scheduled in the order in which kits are received.
Specimen Collection Requirements
Prior to your specimen collection appointment, you must go to The Surgery medical clinic to pay a collection fee of 80,000 Ugandan shillings per person.
The Surgery (clinic)
42 Naggulu Drive, Naguru
Reception: +256 (0) 31 225 6001/2/3
Accounts: +256 (0) 31 225 6004
Medical examinations: +256 (0) 31 225 6007
Reception email: reception@thesurgeryuganda.org
Bring the following to your specimen collection appointment:
- Receipt for sample collection fee from The Surgery
- Photo identification for each person having a specimen collected
- Passport-sized photo for each person having a specimen collected
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian with valid photo identification
For U.S. citizenship-related DNA questions, email KampalaDNA@state.gov.
For DNA questions related to Visas 92/93, email KampalaV92-93@state.gov.
Last updated: March 26th, 2021
