Museveni Orders Overhaul of Passport and ID Issuance Process

The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control ordered to follow 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 formally published and legally justified.

President Museveni has issued an Executive Order directing immigration and identification authorities to streamline the issuance of passports and other identity documents, following widespread complaints about the treatment of applicants.

Museveni emphasised that the problem does not stem from the law itself but rather from how it is implemented.

“I have consistently received complaints regarding the manner in which passport applicants are treated by the concerned authorities,” he stated.

The directive affirms that every Ugandan citizen has the right to a passport and the freedom to enter and leave the country without restrictions.

It orders the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) to follow 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 formally published and legally justified.

The order also warns immigration officials against exceeding their mandate when determining citizenship, asserting 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 said.

Additionally, DCIC has been prohibited 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 a question about an applicant’s information, DCIC should refer the matter to NIRA,” the President reiterated.

The Executive Order also mandates fair and uniform application of passport and ID requirements, regardless of an applicant’s tribe or ethnicity.

Museveni instructed that applicants who provide supporting letters from local authorities, including Local Council leaders and Resident District Commissioners, should receive their documents without unnecessary delays.

“If an applicant’s request is supported by a letter from local authorities (and corroboration by notable elders where necessary), they should be promptly issued a national ID or passport,” he directed.

Museveni further pointed out a legal gap concerning the citizenship status of children born to registered or naturalised Ugandan citizens.

“Currently, the law does not grant automatic citizenship to children of citizens by birth (registration) or naturalisation. A citizen produces a citizen,” he noted, directing the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General to address the matter.

The latest order follows a similar directive issued in January, in which Museveni instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop denying passports to rightful Ugandan citizens, particularly members of the Banyarwanda community born in Uganda.

That directive, signed on January 23, responded to longstanding complaints that some passport applicants—especially Banyarwanda—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.

The directive specifically prohibited DCIC from confiscating or cancelling National Identity Cards issued by NIRA without legal justification.

While the order did not explicitly name a specific group, it followed allegations that members of the Banyarwanda community were being denied passports and identity documents despite being recognised as Ugandan citizens under the 1995 Constitution.

Social commentator Frank Gashumba has been vocal about these grievances, alleging that many Banyarwanda have faced repeated denials or document confiscations by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In 2021, a group of Banyarwanda led by Gashumba rebranded themselves as “Abavandimwe” to distance themselves from perceptions of being Rwandan nationals, arguing that this move was necessary to counter discrimination.

Members of the community have also accused immigration officials of subjecting them to humiliating interrogations when they identify as Banyarwanda by tribe.

Museveni’s directive aims to address these concerns and ensure a transparent, non-discriminatory process for issuing passports and identity documents to all Ugandan citizens.