Museveni Issues Executive Order to Protect Citizenship Rights in Uganda.
KAMPALA, Uganda—President Yoweri Museveni has signed an executive order to safeguard the rights of Ugandan citizens. The order, issued on January 24, 2025, aims to address complaints about immigration authorities' treatment of passport applicants.
The move follows grievances from members of the Banyarwanda tribe who were born and raised in Uganda. They alleged human rights violations, claiming they were denied passports and national identity cards despite being Ugandan citizens.
In the order, Museveni clarified that the 1995 Constitution resolves citizenship issues under Chapter 3. It provides for three types of citizenship: by birth, registration, and naturalization.
"The challenge is administrative in nature," Museveni said, emphasizing that the law itself is not the problem but rather how it is applied in proving citizenship.
The president directed that every Ugandan citizen has the right to a passport or other travel documents and to enter, leave, and return to the country. He instructed immigration officials to follow the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, which only requires applicants to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) and comply with other prescribed requirements.
Museveni stressed that administrative processes for proving citizenship must uphold the dignity of all persons. He cautioned immigration officers that citizenship by birth is inherent and not granted by them. There must be a presumption of citizenship unless there is strong evidence to the contrary.
The president noted that currently, the law does not automatically grant citizenship to children of citizens by birth and naturalization. He directed the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General to address this anomaly immediately.
Museveni also ordered the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control not to confiscate or cancel national identity cards issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) without following due process.
The executive order seeks to ensure the fair treatment of Ugandan citizens and uphold their constitutional rights regarding citizenship and identification documents.
KAMPALA, Uganda—President Yoweri Museveni has signed an executive order to safeguard the rights of Ugandan citizens. The order, issued on January 24, 2025, aims to address complaints about immigration authorities' treatment of passport applicants.
The move follows grievances from members of the Banyarwanda tribe who were born and raised in Uganda. They alleged human rights violations, claiming they were denied passports and national identity cards despite being Ugandan citizens.
In the order, Museveni clarified that the 1995 Constitution resolves citizenship issues under Chapter 3. It provides for three types of citizenship: by birth, registration, and naturalization.
"The challenge is administrative in nature," Museveni said, emphasizing that the law itself is not the problem but rather how it is applied in proving citizenship.
The president directed that every Ugandan citizen has the right to a passport or other travel documents and to enter, leave, and return to the country. He instructed immigration officials to follow the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, which only requires applicants to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) and comply with other prescribed requirements.
Museveni stressed that administrative processes for proving citizenship must uphold the dignity of all persons. He cautioned immigration officers that citizenship by birth is inherent and not granted by them. There must be a presumption of citizenship unless there is strong evidence to the contrary.
The president noted that currently, the law does not automatically grant citizenship to children of citizens by birth and naturalization. He directed the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Attorney General to address this anomaly immediately.
Museveni also ordered the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control not to confiscate or cancel national identity cards issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) without following due process.
The executive order seeks to ensure the fair treatment of Ugandan citizens and uphold their constitutional rights regarding citizenship and identification documents.
