By President Yoweri Museveni has issued an Executive Order directing immigration and identification authorities to streamline the issuance of passports and other identity documents in response to widespread complaints about the treatment of applicants.
In his directive, President Museveni emphasized that the issue does not stem from existing laws but rather from their implementation.
“I have consistently received complaints regarding the manner in which passport applicants are treated by the concerned authorities,” he stated.
The order reaffirms that every Ugandan citizen has the right to obtain a passport and to enter and leave the country without unnecessary restrictions. It instructs the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) to strictly adhere to Section 40 of the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, which stipulates that a National Identification Number (NIN) and other legally specified documents are sufficient for passport applications. Any additional requirements must be legally justified and formally published.
Furthermore, the directive cautions immigration officials against exceeding their mandate in determining citizenship, emphasizing that citizenship by birth is inherent.
“There must be a presumption of citizenship unless an immigration officer has cogent and reliable evidence that the information submitted by an applicant is false,” Museveni stated.
Additionally, the Executive Order prohibits DCIC from confiscating or cancelling National Identity Cards issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) without due legal process.
“It is not the mandate of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control to investigate citizenship by birth. If there is any doubt regarding an applicant’s information, the matter should be referred to NIRA,” the President reiterated.
The directive also mandates the fair and uniform application of passport and identity document requirements, regardless of an applicant’s ethnic or tribal background. Museveni instructed that applicants who provide supporting letters from local authorities, including Local Council leaders and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), should receive their documents without undue delays.
“If an applicant’s request is supported by a letter from local authorities, and corroborated by notable elders where necessary, they should be promptly issued a national ID or passport,” he directed.
Addressing a legal gap, Museveni highlighted the absence of provisions granting automatic citizenship to children born to registered or naturalized Ugandan citizens.
“Currently, the law does not grant automatic citizenship to children of citizens by registration or naturalization. A citizen produces a citizen,” he noted, directing the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General to address this issue.
Context of the Executive Order
This directive follows a similar order issued in January, in which President Museveni instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to cease denying passports to rightful Ugandan citizens, particularly members of the Banyarwanda community born in Uganda. That directive, signed on January 23, responded to longstanding concerns that some applicants—especially those from the Banyarwanda community—were being unfairly treated.
“The issue is not the law itself but how it is administered regarding proof of citizenship for passport or identity document applicants,” Museveni stated at the time.
While the latest order does not explicitly name a specific group, it follows reports that members of the Banyarwanda community have faced discrimination in obtaining passports and identity documents, despite being recognized as Ugandan citizens under the 1995 Constitution.
Social commentator Frank Gashumba has been vocal about these grievances, alleging that many Banyarwanda applicants have had their documents unfairly confiscated or faced repeated denials.
In 2021, a group of Banyarwanda, led by Gashumba, rebranded themselves as “Abavandimwe” to distinguish themselves from perceptions of Rwandan nationality, arguing that the move was necessary to counter discrimination. Members of the community have also accused immigration officials of subjecting them to humiliating interrogations when identifying as Banyarwanda by tribe.
President Museveni’s directive seeks to address these concerns and ensure a transparent, equitable, and non-discriminatory process for issuing passports and identity documents to all Ugandan citizens.
