The Ministry of Internal Affairs has provided clarity on the criteria and procedures governing the issuance of Ugandan citizenship and identification documents, responding to concerns raised by the Council for Abavandimwe.
This follows persistent complaints from members of the Banyarwanda community in Uganda who allege discrimination in obtaining national identity cards (IDs) and passports.
Mundeyi Simon Peter, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, reiterated the legal framework guiding citizenship acquisition in Uganda.
He stated, “According to chapter 3 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, citizenship by birth requires individuals to have ancestral ties to one of Uganda’s indigenous communities listed in the Third Schedule of the constitution as of February 1926.”
Regarding citizenship by naturalisation, Mundeyi added, “Applicants must demonstrate a significant period of residence in Uganda, proficiency in a designated Ugandan language or English, and a clean criminal record, among other requirements.”
Frank Gashumba, Chairman of the Council for Abavandimwe, (an association representing the interests of Banyarwanda natives born and raised in Uganda) expressed concerns back in April about the alleged discrimination faced by the Banyarwanda community in Uganda.
“Our people day in day out, thousands of Ugandans are being denied National Identification Cards, they are being denied passports,” he said while presenting a petition to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among
Gashumba highlighted the frustration within the community, saying, “When you are denied a national ID, you are economically crippled.”
In response to these concerns, Mundeyi clarified that the Ministry’s procedures are designed to uphold Uganda’s national security and the integrity of its travel documents.
He added that the denial of IDs and passports is not based on ethnic discrimination but on adherence to legal requirements aimed at safeguarding Uganda’s citizenship and immigration controls.”
The Ministry acknowledged instances where IDs and passports have been confiscated from individuals attempting to cross border points such as Katuna and Kagitumba.
They attributed these actions to efforts to combat fraudulent attempts by non-Ugandans seeking citizenship through illegal means.
Mundenyi gave an example of one Sam Nkubito who was found in possession of an illegal Ugandan National ID, and attempted to have his biometrics taken for a passport on July 9, 2024.
“Our systems flagged his travel history, as he used his Rwandan National ID to enter Uganda. Investigations are underway to determine why he was attempting to obtain a Ugandan Passport illegally, circumventing the necessary criteria for citizenship,” he said.
“We are aware of criminal organisations that train non-Ugandans to falsely claim Ugandan citizenship in order to obtain our travel documents. This is often done to engage in extremist activities while using our travel documents.”
Mundeyi encouraged affected individuals to seek redress through official channels if they believe their applications have been mishandled. He cautioned against misinformation and advised the public to rely on credible sources for information regarding citizenship laws and procedures.
