If you lose your Uganda Passport while you’re abroad, you will now require to return to the east African nation (Uganda) to apply for a replacement.
This is because the country has banned the processing of lost passports in all its 38 embassies worldwide.
Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and immigration control has communicated to it’s embassies to immediately implement the directive.
According to head of Internal Affairs Ministry in Uganda, some Ugandans abroad or in the Diaspora have been selling their passports to people who have hidden intentions including fraud.
The Ministry says, the sale of passports has a long-term effect on the reputation of Ugandans internationally and that some countries had already submitted formal complains against Ugandan nationals.
Interior Ministry’s Spokesperson ”Simon Mundeyi” told media services that some citizen abroad sold their passports for over $5,000 that is nearly Ugandan Shillings 19 Millions (19,000,000/-) to buyers who had ulterior motives. He added on that the Ugandan would then go to embassies and apply for passport replacement.
On May 7th 2024, The Interior Ministry also said that “Many countries in Europe and Asia find it difficult to differentiate people of color, and it was becoming easy for a person of color to beat the immigration system using a Ugandan passport.
Mundeyi added that processing lost passports in Uganda would allow a thorough examination of applicants before they are issued with new passports.
The Interior Ministry however clarified that Ugandans with expired passports will continue seeking renewal at embassies. According to the Ministry of foreign affairs, there are more than 780,000 Ugandans in the diaspora.
Replacing an ordinary East African Passport costs Ugx 250,000/- which is approximately $65 . The New directives subjects Ugandans who have lost to extra costs mainly transport charges.
