Museveni Issues Executive Order to Streamline Passport Issuance and Protect Citizenship Rights

President Yoweri Museveni has issued an Executive Order aimed at reforming the process of passport and identity document issuance in Uganda. The directive addresses widespread complaints regarding the treatment of applicants and ensures that all Ugandan citizens are afforded their constitutional rights without discrimination.

President Museveni acknowledged receiving numerous complaints about how passport applicants are treated by authorities. He reaffirmed that every Ugandan citizen has the right to obtain a passport and the freedom to enter and leave the country without unnecessary restrictions.

The Executive Order mandates the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) to strictly adhere to Section 40 of the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act. This section states 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 explicitly warns immigration officials against exceeding their mandate when assessing citizenship, emphasizing that citizenship by birth is inherent and should not be questioned without substantial evidence.

“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,” President Museveni stated.

Furthermore, the order prohibits DCIC from confiscating or cancelling National Identity Cards issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) without following proper legal procedures. The President emphasized that it is not within the DCIC’s mandate to investigate citizenship by birth and that any doubts about an applicant’s information should be referred to NIRA for verification.

The Executive Order calls for a uniform application of passport and ID requirements, regardless of the applicant’s tribe or ethnicity. Museveni directed that applicants who present supporting letters from local authorities, such as Local Council leaders and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), should receive their documents without unnecessary 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 instructed.

The President also identified a legal gap concerning children born to registered or naturalised Ugandan citizens. He pointed out that the current law does not automatically grant citizenship to children of citizens by birth (registration) or naturalisation. Museveni directed the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General to address this gap, stating, “A citizen produces a citizen.”

This directive follows a similar one issued in January, in which Museveni instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to cease denying passports to legitimate Ugandan citizens, especially members of the Banyarwanda community born in Uganda. The January directive, signed on the 23rd, responded to numerous complaints that passport applicants, particularly Banyarwanda, were being unfairly treated.

Museveni clarified that the problem did not lie with the law itself but with its implementation, particularly regarding the proof of citizenship for passport or identity document applicants. The directive also specifically prohibited DCIC from confiscating or cancelling National Identity Cards issued by NIRA without proper legal

While the latest order did not explicitly single out any group, it followed allegations that the Banyarwanda community had faced discriminatory treatment. Social commentator Frank Gashumba has been vocal about these grievances, alleging that many Banyarwanda have repeatedly faced denials or confiscation of their documents 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, aiming to counter discrimination. Community members also reported being subjected to humiliating interrogations when identifying as Banyarwanda by tribe.

President Museveni’s directive aims to address these longstanding concerns and ensure a transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory process for issuing passports and identity documents to all Ugandan citizens. The order underscores the need for uniformity in applying the law and upholding the fundamental rights of every Ugandan, regardless of their ethnic background or tribe.