President Museveni completely changed how Uganda checks if people are real citizens. He moved the power away from government workers and gave it to local village leaders instead. The president got angry about complaints that officials were treating Banyarwanda people badly. He said local elders know their communities better than desk workers ever could. The new system starts right away and affects millions of people across the country.
Village committees will decide who deserves citizenship papers from here on out. These groups have local council members, security officers, and respected community elders. People whose families lived in Uganda before 1962 can register for free. Anyone who came later must pay money for their documents. The president wants to stop fake claims and discrimination at the same time.
District bosses will handle tough cases that villages cannot solve. The president shared stories about his own neighbors who came from Rwanda and South Sudan long ago. He knows these families personally and considers them true Ugandans. Local knowledge beats paperwork every time according to the new rules. The system should work better than the old bureaucratic mess.
Museveni refused to allow dual citizenship with nearby African countries. He worries about security problems if people hold passports from multiple nations. The president listed 14 questions that verification teams must ask every applicant. False statements will result in criminal charges and cancelled identity cards. The changes come before the 2026 elections when millions need proper documentation.
Village committees will decide who deserves citizenship papers from here on out. These groups have local council members, security officers, and respected community elders. People whose families lived in Uganda before 1962 can register for free. Anyone who came later must pay money for their documents. The president wants to stop fake claims and discrimination at the same time.
District bosses will handle tough cases that villages cannot solve. The president shared stories about his own neighbors who came from Rwanda and South Sudan long ago. He knows these families personally and considers them true Ugandans. Local knowledge beats paperwork every time according to the new rules. The system should work better than the old bureaucratic mess.
Museveni refused to allow dual citizenship with nearby African countries. He worries about security problems if people hold passports from multiple nations. The president listed 14 questions that verification teams must ask every applicant. False statements will result in criminal charges and cancelled identity cards. The changes come before the 2026 elections when millions need proper documentation.
