By The Insight Post Uganda
Kampala – Uganda
In a country where identity is deeply tied to nationality, the Internal Affairs Ministry of Uganda, Monday, made a bold statement- “Being Born In Uganda Doesn’t Automatically Make You Ugandan”.
The declaration stirred up a heated debate across the nation, as it challenges the widely held belief that birthplace is the sole determinant of citizenship.
For many years, the assumption has been that if you were born on Ugandan soil, you were automatically considered a Ugandan citizen. However, the Internal Affairs Ministry’s statement challenges this notion, pointing out that citizenship is a complex issue that goes beyond the mere fact of birthplace.
The ministry, through its Directorate Of Citizenship & Immigration Control, provided clarification in response to complaints that have been making rounds on social media since last week. A group of individuals who identify as Ugandans allege that they were being refused access to passport services from the ministry.
According to the Ministry spokesperson – Simon Mundeyi, there are certain criteria that must be met in order to be recognized as a Ugandan citizen, and birthplace is just one of them.
“For anyone to be regarded as a Ugandan citizen by birth, at least one of his/her parents must be Ugandan,” says Mundeyi.
According to him, even if someone has a birth certificate from Uganda, has been educated in Uganda, speaks the local languages fluently, and has been living in Uganda, they are not considered a citizen of Uganda if both of their parents are non-Ugandans.
He noted that the citizenship laws in Uganda are distinct from those of other countries such as the United States, where individuals born within the country’s borders or airspace are automatically granted citizenship.
Regarding the confusion surrounding individuals who belong to the Banyarwanda tribe, which is recognized in Uganda’s constitution, Mundeyi clarifies that only those who were present on the Ugandan territory during the colonial demarcations of Africa in 1926 are considered part of the Banyarwanda tribe.
However, he adds, there is a misconception that anyone who arrives from Rwanda automatically belongs to the Banyarwanda tribe in Uganda and this is not the case.
“The Banyarwanda tribe is comprised of individuals who were already present in areas such as Kisoro, Kabale, and Kyanika during 1926. To be considered a Ugandan of the Banyarwanda tribe, one must be able to trace their lineage back to those who were present during that time. If one’s ancestors arrived in Uganda after 1926, they are not considered Ugandan citizens of the Banyarwanda tribe,” he maintains.
Mundeyi also addressed another source of confusion, which involves the various tribes living near Uganda’s borders, such as the Bagisu at the Uganda-Kenya border, those on the Congo border, the Sabinys on the Kenyan border, and the Madis, on the South Sudanese border.
To prevent the issuance of passports to non-Ugandans, investigations are conducted on individuals from these areas before they are granted passports. If your passport is delayed due to verification, Mundeyi urges patience as the government seeks to avoid issuing passports to non-Ugandan citizens.
The ministry has further implemented a rigorous system to investigate and confirm individuals’ citizenship status before issuing him/her a passport. “This measure aims to ensure that Ugandan passport maintains their integrity and is recognized globally,” says Mundey.
There are five types of citizenship recognized in Uganda, which include citizenship by birth, citizenship by registration, citizenship through marriage, and dual citizenship.
Citizenship By Birth: This is citizenship granted to individuals who are born within the territory of Uganda or are born to Ugandan parents outside the country.
Citizenship By Registration: This type of citizenship is granted to individuals who have been living in Uganda for a minimum of five years and have been granted permanent residence status. They can apply for citizenship by registration after fulfilling certain requirements, including knowledge of the Ugandan language, understanding of Ugandan culture and history, and the renunciation of any previous citizenship.
Citizenship By Marriage: This type of citizenship is granted to non-Ugandan spouses of Ugandan citizens who have been married for a minimum of three years and have been living in Uganda for at least two years.
Citizenship By Adoption: This type of citizenship is granted to non-Ugandan children who are adopted by Ugandan citizens.
Dual Citizenship: Uganda allows its citizens to hold citizenship in another country while maintaining their Ugandan citizenship. However, individuals who wish to hold dual citizenship must meet certain conditions, including renouncing any previous citizenship, proving their financial stability, and being of good character.
Foreigners acquire Ugandan Passport
The acquisition of Ugandan passports by foreigners has caused concern, as some have obtained them through fraudulent means while locals struggle to obtain them. Some Ugandans blame this on corrupt staff at immigration offices.
Recently, two foreign nationals were arrested for obtaining Ugandan passports through fraudulent means. The suspects are identified as Ishime Gabriel, a Burundian national, and Saunders David Joshua from Nigeria, along with their Ugandan accomplice Gibson Sseruwajji.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Ishime Gabriel first arrived in Uganda in 2015 using a Burundian passport, falsely declaring himself as a Munyankore from Kiruhura district to obtain a Ugandan National ID.
He then used this ID to successfully obtain a Ugandan passport. Ishime was arrested at the Busia border while attempting to travel to Germany via Kenya.
Similarly, Saunders David Joshua, who has claimed to be a Ugandan businessman dealing in computers, obtained a National ID by falsely registering himself as a Muganda. He then started processing a Ugandan passport but was unable to prove his nationality during a passport interview.
He presented Gibson Sseruwaji as his paternal relative, who was found to be one of the brokers involved in fraudulent passport acquisition in Kampala.
Still, in October 2019, the authorities in China arrested Nigerians with Ugandan passports.
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