A quiet battle is unfolding between Uganda’s immigration authorities and hundreds of former political leaders over a small but highly symbolic government document—the official passport.
Months after the 2026 General Election and the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is intensifying efforts to recover diplomatic and service passports from former ministers and Members of Parliament whose terms in office have ended.
Yet compliance remains remarkably low, exposing a complicated mix of legal obligations, personal convenience, prestige, and administrative uncertainty.
Official figures show that nearly 400 former MPs and more than two dozen former ministers continue to hold passports that were issued solely because of the public offices they once occupied.
Immigration officials insist that these documents are government property tied to active service and must be surrendered once a holder leaves office.
Despite repeated appeals, only a handful of former ministers have complied, while none of the former legislators are reported to have returned their service passports.
A Passport Linked to Power
Uganda’s passport system distinguishes between ordinary, service, and diplomatic passports.
Members of Parliament are issued green service passports to facilitate official travel and provide access to special immigration and airport services. Ministers and other senior government officials qualify for diplomatic passports, which carry additional privileges and recognition during international travel.
The challenge facing immigration authorities stems from the fact that these passports are often printed with a validity period of up to ten years. While the documents may remain valid on paper, officials argue that the legal entitlement to use them expires immediately when a holder leaves office.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the passport is not a personal benefit but an instrument of government service. Once the official role ends, so too does the right to retain or use the document.
Officials warn that former leaders who continue travelling on the passports could face difficulties abroad if immigration authorities determine that they no longer hold the positions associated with the documents.
The Numbers Behind the Standoff
The scale of the exercise is significant.
Of the 529 legislators who served in the 11th Parliament, nearly three-quarters failed to secure seats in the 2026 elections. At the same time, a Cabinet reshuffle removed dozens of ministers from government.
Together, these developments created one of the largest transitions of passport holders in recent years.
Yet the government’s recovery effort has exposed a practical challenge: while the law clearly ties official passports to public office, many former leaders view the issue differently.
Some argue that they legally obtained the passports, paid the required fees, and should be allowed to keep them until they expire.
Others say the government has failed to adequately explain how the transition to ordinary passports will be managed.
The Visa Dilemma
One of the strongest objections raised by former legislators concerns visas already attached to the passports.
Many holders possess long-term visas for countries such as Canada, the United States, and members of the European Union. Surrendering a passport could complicate future travel plans and potentially require costly visa replacement procedures.
Former legislators have questioned whether the government intends to transfer existing visas to new passports, waive replacement costs, or create a simplified transition process.
Without clear answers, some insist they have little incentive to surrender documents that still carry years of validity.
The concerns highlight a broader issue often overlooked in discussions about official travel documents: passports today are not merely identity papers but repositories of travel history, visas, and international clearances that can take years to acquire.
Prestige and Politics
Beyond practical considerations lies another factor that is harder to quantify—prestige.
For many politicians, official passports symbolize status acquired through years of public service.
Diplomatic and service passports often provide access to VIP airport services, priority processing, and special treatment at border points. Even after leaving office, some former leaders may be reluctant to part with privileges they enjoyed during their tenure.
Political observers note that public titles in Uganda often outlive official positions. Former MPs continue to be addressed as “Honourable,” while former ministers retain significant social influence long after leaving government.
In such an environment, surrendering an official passport can be perceived as more than an administrative exercise; it can symbolize the end of political power and public prominence.
A Matter of Compliance
Not all former leaders oppose the government’s directive.
Some argue that retaining diplomatic or service passports after leaving office creates unnecessary complications.
International travel under diplomatic status often requires supporting documentation, including diplomatic notes issued by governments. Travellers who cannot provide such documentation risk delays, questioning, or denial of privileges normally associated with official travel.
Those who support the ministry’s position contend that official passports should be surrendered immediately upon leaving office to avoid misunderstandings with foreign immigration authorities.
They also argue that stronger enforcement mechanisms should have been introduced years ago, rather than allowing former office holders to retain the documents indefinitely.
Government Banking on Cooperation
For now, the Ministry of Internal Affairs appears determined to rely on persuasion rather than coercion.
Officials say they are not planning to hunt down former passport holders or launch recovery operations. Instead, they expect voluntary compliance from individuals who understand that the documents are tied to public office rather than personal ownership.
Whether that approach succeeds remains uncertain.
The controversy has exposed gaps in communication, inconsistencies in enforcement, and unresolved questions about the rights and obligations of former office holders.
As Uganda seeks to tighten management of official travel documents, the passport debate offers a revealing glimpse into the broader challenge of managing transitions from power. For some former leaders, surrendering a passport may be a routine administrative requirement. For others, it represents the closing of a significant chapter in public life.
Until those concerns are addressed, hundreds of diplomatic and service passports are likely to remain in the hands of people who no longer hold the offices that entitled them to carry them.
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