Ugandans living in Switzerland can now apply for National IDs, register for National Identification Numbers (NINs)—including for children—and update personal records without leaving the country, following the launch of a fully functional one-stop registration centre at the Ugandan Mission in Geneva.
From 26th to 29th November 2025, the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva conducted a four-day Diaspora Engagement and Consular Service Delivery mission in Geneva and Zürich.
The outreach, described as one of the most comprehensive ever undertaken for Ugandans in Switzerland, provided a range of government services directly to the diaspora community.
During the mission, Ugandans of all ages—including families, students, long-term residents, and new arrivals—visited the Mission premises in Geneva and later the GZ Hirzenbach Community Centre in Zürich to access services such as National ID registration, immigration support, and land consultations.
Citizens raised questions on citizenship, land matters, and travel documentation, highlighting the diverse needs of the diaspora.
Working closely with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC), and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD), the Mission brought essential services to the community—many for the first time.
NIRA officials not only handled enrolments and renewals but also trained Mission staff in biometric registration, troubleshooting, citizenship verification, and digital form submission, ensuring that services continue uninterrupted after the teams returned to Uganda.
Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Marcel Tibaleka, said, “This outreach is particularly significant because it marks the formal activation of a fully functional NIRA and Immigration workstation within the Mission in Geneva.
The ability to issue Ugandan visas directly from the Mission brings unprecedented convenience to tourists, researchers, and travellers from Switzerland.”
The Directorate of Immigration also sensitised the diaspora on passport applications, online payment platforms, dependants’ facilitation—including Dependant Passes and Certificates of Residence—and the pathways to acquiring citizenship through marriage or dual nationality.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of MLHUD, Mrs. Dorcas Okalany, engaged one-on-one with diaspora members, providing guidance on land ownership, title verification, investment opportunities, and navigating Uganda’s digitised land governance system, the Uganda National Land Information System (UgNLIS).
She highlighted opportunities for diaspora investment in real estate, agriculture, and commercial land projects, as well as ongoing housing reforms and initiatives addressing the housing deficit.
The four-day mission concluded with a jubilant Uganda@63 Independence Day celebration in Zürich, bringing the diaspora together to celebrate unity and cultural pride.
Ambassador Tibaleka thanked the diaspora for their contributions to Uganda’s development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making essential services accessible to Ugandans abroad.
As similar engagements are planned for 2026, Ugandans in Switzerland can expect sustained access to consular services, deeper engagement, and opportunities to support Uganda’s growth from overseas.