Revelers enjoying themselves at a recent Nyege Nyege. Photo: (Daily Monitor)

The United States and the United Kingdom diplomatic missions have warned their citizens against travelling to Uganda’s Jinja City or visiting the country’s wildlife parks over fears of terror attacks.

The warnings come days into the commencement of Nyege Nyege, a four-day festival which attracts thousands of foreign and local tourists, among other revellers to Jinja City.

The UK High Commission issued the warning on Tuesday and advised nationals to only visit Jinja City if they have essential journeys.

“The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) advises against all but essential travel to Jinja Town. There is a growing terror threat in Uganda, including targeting of foreigners,” the advisory said, as quoted on Daily Monitor newspaper.

“Avoid large gatherings, including large scale worship, and music and cultural festivals in Uganda,” the statement added.

The warning follows the October 17 killing of a British citizen, David Barlow, his South African wife, Emmaretia Geyer and their Ugandan tour guide Eric Alyai, by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Meanwhile, the US Mission in Uganda issued an alert on Monday said their nationals should desist from attending public gatherings in the country that was recently hit by several terrorist attacks.

“Due to increased terrorist activity, U.S. Embassy Kampala recommends that individuals exercise an elevated degree of caution and reconsider attendance at upcoming large public gatherings, such as large-scale worship services and music and cultural festivals in Kampala and Jinja,” the US embassy alert reads.

This is despite a recent assurance by Uganda police spokesman Fred Enanga that there are no known direct terror threats against the country “as of now”.

Nyege Nyege festival is slated to start this Thursday in Jinja City. In the same alerts, UK and the US also cautioned their nationals of the new homosexuality laws in Uganda that could allegedly be used to target some of them.