House irked by new British visa policy

Sep 10, 2009

MPS have criticised the recent decision by the British Government to shift its visa office from Nairobi to Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.

By Joyce Namutebi

MPS have criticised the recent decision by the British Government to shift its visa office from Nairobi to Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.

Debating the foreign affairs committee report on Tuesday, the MPs asked why the British were alienating their former colony and treating Ugandans “inhumanly” when they ask for visas, yet the British are allowed to enter here freely.

“The shifting of the visa office has significantly affected applicants. The process has become lengthy and expensive,” the committee stated in a report presented by Lule Mawiya (NRM).

“The committee implores the Government to engage Britain to reinstate the visa office in Kampala,” Mawiya said in the report adopted by Parliament.

Mathius Nsubuga (DP), a former KCC official, recalled that the British High Commission asked for land to build permanent offices after the bombing of the American embassy in Nairobi and they were allocated land in Kamwokya, Kampala.

He said it was disturbing that after getting the land, the British were shifting services further away from Ugandans.
Noting that Uganda, which is currently the chair of the Commonwealth, needed special status, Nsubuga questioned the intention to relocate to Ethiopia, which was not a British colony.

He asked the Government to explain why the relationship between Uganda and Britain was not cordial.

Beatrice Magoola (NRM) said if the British do not trust Ugandans, they should not be in the country.

“The British should find a better way of dealing with people,” she charged.
She narrated a case where a couple has for two years been separated because the wife has been denied a visa.

Gaudioso Tindamanyire (NRM) decried the fees charged for a British visa.
Commenting on the matter, the deputy speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, also questioned why the Swiss embassy was located in Nairobi.

The regional affairs state minister, Isaac Musumba, assured the MPs that the Government would engage Britain over the matter.

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