A widespread misconception about visa validity may be one of the reasons some former ministers, Members of Parliament and other public officials are reluctant to surrender diplomatic and official passports after leaving office, according to legal expert Marshall Godfrey Alenyo.
Alenyo says many former office holders fear that returning government-issued passports automatically results in the cancellation of visas contained in those documents, despite immigration procedures providing otherwise.
"The fear with former office holders is that the cancellation of the passport will mean the visa is being cancelled," Alenyo explained.
"The visa is not cancelled. Immigration simply cancels the passport and gives it back to you. You cannot use it for travel, but the visa remains valid."
His remarks come amid ongoing public debate over the continued possession of diplomatic and official passports by individuals who no longer hold positions that entitle them to the documents.
According to Alenyo, retaining the passports can expose former officials to difficulties while travelling, particularly in countries that closely scrutinise diplomatic credentials and official travel documentation.
"If you are entering many countries, particularly in the Arab world, you may be asked which office you hold and where your diplomatic note is," he said.
"Even at immigration counters, officials can ask whether you are still serving in that capacity and whether you are travelling on official duty."
He noted that some travellers have encountered challenges abroad after failing to justify their continued use of official travel documents despite no longer serving in public office.
Alenyo also highlighted what he described as a structural weakness in Uganda's passport issuance system. He argued that official passports are issued with a validity period of 10 years, while many of the public offices that qualify holders for such documents last only five years.
"The official passports are given for ten years, yet the office you hold is for five years," Alenyo said. "There is a mismatch between the validity of the office and the validity of the passport."
He suggested that official passports issued to political office holders should instead be valid for the duration of their tenure, ensuring that the travel document expires at the same time as the office that justified its issuance.
According to Alenyo, aligning passport validity with the term of office would reduce confusion, improve compliance and make it easier for authorities to recover the documents once officials leave public service.
"The passport should ideally expire with the office," he said.
He further advised public officials approaching the end of their terms to apply for ordinary passports before surrendering their diplomatic or official documents.
Alenyo emphasised that the process is straightforward, noting that immigration authorities typically cancel the passport's travel function while preserving any valid visas contained in it.
He said greater public awareness of this procedure could help address misconceptions and encourage former office holders to comply with passport return requirements.