The Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported a rise in the number of foreign nationals attempting to fraudulently obtain Ugandan passports. This surge in attempts has been attributed to the global recognition and acceptance of the Ugandan passport’s strength.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson for Internal Affairs, highlighted the growing demand for Ugandan passports, describing them as highly sought-after. He emphasized that Ugandan passports remain valid and recognized across the world, as no country has outlawed them.
Mundeyi explained that citizens from countries with passports that have been blacklisted or outlawed in other nations have been resorting to acquiring Ugandan passports through various means. These individuals often come to Uganda, reside for a period, and then strategize ways to apply for Ugandan passports.
Recently, a group of Congolese nationals was apprehended for attempting to fraudulently obtain Ugandan passports. Their modus operandi involved hiring Ugandans to pose as their relatives during the passport application process. However, their scheme was exposed during investigations.
“The Congolese individuals hired people to impersonate their parents and family members, presenting themselves as Ugandans who had not grown up in Uganda. Upon questioning, the hired individuals revealed the truth. Further scrutiny confirmed that the Congolese had no genuine connection to Uganda,” Mundeyi stated.
He disclosed that these impersonators had been paid sums ranging from shs1 million to shs2 million to pose as family members. The group has been arrested and is slated to face legal proceedings.
Mundeyi further revealed that the Congolese individuals possessed national ID cards obtained through fraudulent means and would also be subject to legal action.
Notably, there have been previous instances of foreigners, particularly from Nigeria, attempting to acquire Ugandan passports for various illicit purposes, such as drug trafficking. This has been driven by the blacklisting of their countries’ passports in certain nations, including China.