Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) has announced that Ugandans with expired National Identity Cards (IDs) will still be able to acquire new passports.
Amid concerns regarding expired National IDs, the Directorate assures that individuals facing this situation can still apply for passports. Maj Gen Apollo Kasiita Gowa and Brig Gen Namanya Abaho, communicated this decision through the Ministry of Internal Affairs Spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi.
Mundeyi clarified that the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) confirmed that National Identification Numbers (NINs) do not expire. Therefore, individuals possessing expired expired National IDs can still apply for passports as long as they have their NINs.
“We are getting a lot of people inquiring about the looming expiry of National IDs. We shall continue issuing passports irrespective of the expiry of the national ID. This is because NIRA has told us that NINs do not expire. People who have been worried should have their fears arrested,” Mundeyi said.
The DCIC has clarified that during passport issuance, they prioritize the National Identification Number (NIN) found on the National ID. However, they caution that individuals who obtained a National ID without being Ugandan citizens, either through birth or naturalization, will be ineligible for a passport, even if they possess their NINs.
Furthermore, the DCIC has issued a warning to individuals who commit errors on their online passport application forms at collection centers. They emphasize that no modifications will be made to such applications. Simon Peter Mundeyi highlighted instances where applicants specify collection centers in Gulu or Mbarara but indicate Kampala as the pickup location.
“If you are in Mbarara, you should indicate Mbarara as the collection centre and you should do the same if you are applying in Gulu. Once you say you will collect your passport in Kampala when you apply in Gulu, be assured you will have to collect it in Kampala. We don’t change collection centres the applicants have indicated,” Mundeyi said.
The DCIC has urged individuals from Rwanda and other countries who were born in Uganda but whose parents are not Ugandan citizens to undergo the naturalization process to acquire citizenship, as they are ineligible for passports. Simon Peter Mundeyi emphasized that only individuals belonging to the Banyarwanda community, as recognized in the constitution, are those who were present in Uganda at the time of the border demarcation in February 1922.
