President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed an executive order aimed at protecting the citizenship rights of Ugandans, addressing complaints about the administrative handling of passport applications and other identity documents.
The President emphasized that under Chapter 3 of the 1995 Constitution, citizenship is defined in three categories: by birth, registration, and naturalization. He noted that the issue lies not with the law but with how it is applied by immigration authorities.
The directive comes after repeated grievances from Ugandans of the Banyarwanda tribe, who alleged human rights violations and denial of passports and national identity cards despite being citizens.
In his order, Museveni affirmed that every Ugandan citizen has the right to a passport and free movement in and out of the country. He instructed immigration officials to base their processes on the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, requiring only a National Identification Number (NIN) and compliance with prescribed regulations.
The President also warned against unnecessary administrative requirements and stressed that citizenship by birth is inherent, with a presumption of citizenship unless proven otherwise by credible evidence.
Museveni directed the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General to address gaps in the law, particularly regarding citizenship rights for children of citizens. He further prohibited the confiscation or cancellation of National Identity Cards by immigration authorities without due legal process.
This executive order aims to uphold the dignity of all citizens and streamline the administrative processes related to citizenship verification.