By In a bid to boost consular services for its citizens abroad, the government has announced the opening of a new passport office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With strategic to streamline the process of renewing and replacing passports for Ugandans residing in the region, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming travel to other countries.
The decision to establish the Riyadh office comes in response to the significant Ugandan population in Saudi Arabia. According to data from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Saudi Arabia has been the primary destination for Ugandan migrant workers in the Middle East, with over 77,000 Ugandans working there in 2022 alone. This accounts for approximately 75% of Ugandan labor migration to the region.
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The new office, located within the Ugandan Embassy in Riyadh, is scheduled to commence operations in July. It is poised to handle passport renewals and replacements, providing much-needed relief to Ugandans by offering direct access to essential services without the need for cross-border travel.
Previously, Ugandans in Saudi Arabia had to travel to cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi to access passport services. The establishment of the Riyadh office is expected to alleviate this burden and improve service delivery.
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This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Ugandan government to decentralize consular services and respond more effectively to the needs of its citizens abroad. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been working to open new passport centers across the country and abroad, necessitating system upgrades to handle increased demand. The resumption of normal operations is expected to see a total of 2,500 passports produced daily to address the backlog of applications.
The opening of the Riyadh passport office marks a significant step in supporting the Ugandan diaspora, particularly in the Middle East, where the number of migrant workers has been growing steadily. In 2022, Uganda recorded an annual total of 84,966 migrant workers leaving for the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar being the top destinations.
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