UK blacklists Uganda's diplomatic passports

By John Masaba

“We are not to blame.” That is the chorus from the internal affairs ministry as the repeated abuse of Ugandan diplomatic passport continues to soil the country’s image abroad.

The latest developments indicate that Thailand and UK have backlisted VIP passports from Uganda. The foreign affairs ministry has, however, denied the reports.

Two weeks ago, former regional affairs minister Isaac Musumba and Igara East MP Michael Mawanda Maranga, were held in Mumbai, India, over charges of extortion.

The two allegedly had diplomatic passports, which they were not supposed to possess.

Among the people allowed to possess diplomatic passports are government ministers and their spouses, foreign affairs service officers, their spouses and children below the age of 18.

Others are the head of public service, judges, the governor and deputy governor of the Central Bank.

According to the law, chancellors and vice-chancellors of all state universities, religious leaders of the Catholic, Anglican Muslim and Orthodox faiths are also entitled.

Also eligible for diplomatic passports are the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, permanent secretaries, as well as chairpersons of permanent commissions.


UK’s troubles with Uganda’s diplomatic passports

In 2008, British legislators urged their government to scrutise holders of diplomatic passports arriving and leaving the UK.

They were reportedly furious that the Uganda government was ignorant of the number of diplomatic passports issued.

Rose Birungi, an aide to former micro-finance minister Salim Saleh, is serving a 12-year-sentence in the UK for trafficking Class A cocaine while travelling on a Ugandan diplomatic passport.

Others who have previously been arrested while in possession of diplomatic passports are Ananias Tumukunde, a presidential advisor, Anne Birungi Bisaso and John Mugisha, who were netted in 2010 with cocaine.

Ugandan embassy staff in the UK now use their identity cards because the red passports are not respected, a diplomat told Saturday Vision.


Foreign affairs speaks out

Ambassador James Mugume, the foreign affairs Permanent Secretary, said they were responsible for only ambassadors and their spouses. He said the rest of the passports were issued by the internal affairs ministry, which should recall them if their holders do not meet the set requirements.

However, whereas they agree they are directly responsible for issuing all passports, the internal affairs ministry says the onus of ensuring the holders use them properly is on the foreign affairs ministry.