UK Convention’s Flashback: Major General Kasiita-Gowa, Director Immigration – 9th UK Uganda Convention

Presentation: Immigration Formalities for investors , Expatriates and Diasporas in Uganda: work permits, Dual citizenship and permanent Residence.

At the 9th Uganda-UK Trade & Investment Convention on FRIDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER 2019 – London Hilton on Park Lane.

The Director of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Major General Apollo Kasiita-Gowa noted the enormous contribution of the diaspora to the socio-economic development of Uganda hence the need to support them in attracting potential investment.

He recognised the biggest need for Ugandans in the diaspora, Dual citizenship, and also the need to acquire/renew their passports in the shortest time possible. Dual citizenship means that a person can hold Ugandan citizenship and the citizenship of another country that permits it. The person must also fulfil the legal requirements for dual nationality.

The main benefit of dual citizenship is that one acquires all rights of a Ugandan such as; the right to vote, the right to own property especially in freehold or mailo, amongst others. However, it forbids one from holding the following offices;
a) President of Uganda
b) Vice President
c) Prime Minister
d) Cabinet Minister and other Ministers, among others.

He also disclosed that the International East African e-Passport had been introduced to replace and eventually phase out the current East African and International Machine-Readable passports by January 2021. The International EAC e-Passport will be embedded with an electronic chip which will have biodata and biometric information of the holder. Applicants shall be able to apply for them using the online system to be rolled out and will be required to appear at any of the issuing centres to take their biometrics.

The Director assured investors that the Directorate is mandated and will facilitate them by offering visas, special passes, work permits and other necessary immigration facilities required to conduct business in Uganda in the quickest possible time.