Government clarifies on the alleged denial of passports to Bavandimwe

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has clarified on the allegations of denying passports to Ugandan-Banyarwanda citizens, citing their failure to provide proof of nationality as the primary reason.

This response came during a meeting between the Ministry and the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, where the Council of Bavandimwe had petitioned against the Ministry’s alleged refusal to issue passports and national IDs to its members, despite being born in Uganda.

State Minister for Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. David Muhoozi, explained that the challenge lies in the complainants’ inability to provide proof of citizenship as required by the Constitution.

He, however, invited the Council of Bavandimwe to provide specific case-by-case evidence of individuals being denied IDs and passports.

Gen. Muhoozi also revealed that, in many instances, those denied Ugandan travel documents were found to be holding valid travel documents from other countries.

He emphasized the need for the Council to provide concrete evidence to support their claims, allowing the Ministry to investigate and address any legitimate concerns.
By Namagembe Joweria