A man dressed neatly sparked a commotion at the immigration offices in Kampala by arriving with a snake in his bag, identified as a cobra.
Simon Peter Mundeyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, revealed that when questioned about the dangerous reptile, the man claimed it was his “brother” and insisted on carrying it everywhere.
During a weekly press briefing in Naguru, Kampala, Mr. Mundeyi expressed gratitude that security personnel handled the situation effectively, preventing potential issues at the offices. He emphasized that individuals should refrain from bringing large bags to immigration due to limited space.
“The snake, a black cobra, was coiled inside the bag. I wonder why a sensible Ugandan, seeking passport services, would bring a snake in a large bag,” remarked Mr. Mundeyi.
In response to the incident, he urged the public not to carry heavy bags or items that might pose a security threat when visiting the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Due to budget constraints, there is no designated space to store bags, and visitors are encouraged to bring small bags. Additionally, Mr. Mundeyi advised those with pets, including snakes, to leave them in their vehicles before approaching the ministry’s security gate.
Notably, some communities in the country coexist with reptiles and other pets. Buganda Kingdom’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Anthony Wamala, expressed awareness of rumors about people supposedly giving birth to snakes but stated that he personally had not witnessed such events. Dr. Evelyn Nabunya, the Executive Director of Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital, affirmed having no knowledge of women giving birth to animals.
