The U.S. Embassy in Uganda said that it had been warned of a "specific threat" Thursday evening against Entebbe International Airport in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
An embassy statement, which said the warning came from Ugandan police, based on intelligence sources, said the threat involved an unknown terrorist group.
"Individuals planning travel through the airport this evening may want to review their plans in light of this information," it said.
The warning comes a day after the Obama administration said it was stepping up security for some flights headed to the United States from Europe and the Middle East, reflecting heightened concern that terrorists are developing more sophisticated bombs designed to avoid airport screening.
Specific steps and airports were not disclosed.
A homeland security official said that the Transportation Security Administration would work with airlines and security agencies overseas and that the changes would primarily focus on airports in Europe and the Middle East.
The effort does not involve changes to what travelers can take aboard flights. But passengers may see additional inspections of shoes and electronics, additional use of scanners designed to detect trace amounts of explosives, and another stage of screening at boarding gates, in some cases, the official said.
The changes came about based on new intelligence on terror groups trying to build new types of improvised explosives that are harder to detect, the official told CNN. There was no specific plot.
Earlier this week, CNN reported the U.S. was considering new airport security measures because of concerns that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula was working on undetectable explosives.
The U.S. Embassy in Uganda reminded U.S. citizens of "the continued threat of potential terrorist attacks in the country," particularly in busy public places such as hotels, restaurants, malls and transportation hubs.
'As few disruptions' as possible
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement Wednesday that he had directed the TSA to "implement enhanced security measures in the coming days" at selected overseas airports.
"We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travelers as possible," Johnson said in the statement. "We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry."
The measures do not involve U.S. domestic flights, and passengers could see changes as early as next week.
The UK Department for Transport confirmed Wednesday that it is also stepping up some of its aviation security measures.
It said that most passengers should not experience "significant disruption."
Since hardening cockpit doors and taking other measures after the 9/11 al-Qaida attacks, the U.S. aviation security focus has shifted primarily from hijackings to plastic and other explosives that can be carried aboard a plane or hidden in baggage.
The United States has particularly been focused on efforts by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula to develop undetectable explosives since the unsuccessful attempt by the so-called underwear bomber to bring down a Delta Air Lines jet over Detroit in 2009.