Ugandans in diaspora asks for national IDs

By Dradenya Amazia in Amsterdam

Ugandans living in Netherlands want to get national identity cards without traveling back home like it is with the Ugandan passports.

Speaking during the official opening of the Uganda House Cultural and Business Centre in Amsterdam on April 18, 2015, David Kirunda made the appeal to Uganda's ambassador to European Union and Benelux.

“We living in the diaspora would also lawn to get the national identity cards like any other citizen,” he said.

Kirunda who heads the Uganda Community in the Netherlands re-echoed the need for dual citizenship especially for the Dutch with Ugandan origin.

“We have a lot of opportunities here and back home but we are not able to actively take part because of the issue of single citizenship,” he added.


David Kirunda presents issues raised by the Ugandan community in Netherlands

According to the Dutch law any one who would like to naturalise as a Ducth national should disowned his first nationality.

Kirunda said the embassy should reduce the distance traveled to acquire Ugandan visa.

“We could create a space within Uganda House (in Amsterdam) to have consular services instead of traveling from here to Brussels.

Should it be human resource challenges, some people are willing to volunteer to ensure that the office runs, “he said.

Kirunda said the main aim of Uganda House Cultural and Business Centre is to create unity, promote tourism and bcome a connection point to all Ugandans who live and are yet to come to Netherlands.

Kirunda’s deputy, Washington Musamali, Mirjam emphasized the issues raised by the Ugandan community in Netherlands and promised to have someone from her office come to Amsterdam to handle visa issues once every week.

“These are genuine issues especially the national identity cards and the issue of dual citizenship. You can get the national identity card only in Uganda not anywhere else at the moment. That means you have to be in Uganda in order to get a national identity card,” she said.


Ambassador Mirjam Blaak shakes hands with David Kirunda

On Dual citizenship, she said she was born a Dutch but had to relinquish her Dutch nationality for Ugandan.

“There we can't do anything about it. I cannot even become a Dutch national again. It is very difficult, “she said.

She called for patience from those who would like to renew or acquire Ugandan passports.

“We don't have a passport printing machine in Brussels. We send it to UK and that takes time,” she said.

Derrick Senyonjo, one of the presenters, challenged his fellow country men to start a SACCO within the community.

“I am not saying that you can't save but how much would you save per year if each of the 20 people contribut 50 euros per month?” he asked.

He said that would be more valuable than a single person's saving.

In the occasion, Steve Mwase, one of Ugandan writers in Netherlands launched his newly published book, Dunia.

Ten year old Princess Paris, presented tourism opportunities in Uganda with help of video clip and diagrams.

Kenneth Muyingo, had a presentation on how Ugandans can encourage foreigners  in order to earn more money.

“Uganda is a rich country but we cannot get money because we don't take the opportunities that can give us money,” he said.

And improved latrine for the dissalbed pix by andrew masinde

Ugandans in diaspora asks for national IDs

Dradenya Amazia in Amsterdam

Ugandans living in Netherlands want to get national identity cards without traveling back home like it is with the Ugandan passports.

Speaking during the official opening of the Uganda House Cultural and Business Centre in Amsterdam on April 18, 2015, David Kirunda made the appeal to Uganda's ambassador to European Union and Benelux.

“We living in the diaspora would also lawn to get the national identity cards like any other citizen,” he said.

Kirunda who heads the Uganda Community in the Netherlands re-echoed the need for dual citizenship especially for the Dutch with Ugandan origin.

“We have a lot of opportunities here and back home but we are not able to actively take part because of the issue of single citizenship,” he added.

According to the Dutch law any one who would like to naturalise as a Ducth national should disowned his first nationality.

Kirunda said the embassy should reduce the distance traveled to acquire Ugandan visa.

“We could create a space within Uganda House (in Amsterdam) to have consular services instead of traveling from here to Brussels.

Should it be human resource challenges, some people are willing to volunteer to ensure that the office runs, “he said.

Kirunda said the main aim of Uganda House Cultural and Business Centre is to create unity, promote tourism and bcome a connection point to all Ugandans who live and are yet to come to Netherlands.

Kirunda’s deputy, Washington Musamali, Mirjam emphasized the issues raised by the Ugandan community in Netherlands and promised to have someone from her office come to Amsterdam to handle visa issues once every week.

“These are genuine issues especially the national identity cards and the issue of dual citizenship. You can get the national identity card only in Uganda not anywhere else at the moment. That means you have to be in Uganda in order to get a national identity card,” she said.

 


On Dual citizenship, she said she was born a Dutch but had to relinquish her Dutch nationality for Ugandan.

“There we can't do anything about it. I cannot even become a Dutch national again. It is very difficult, “she said.

She called for patience from those who would like to renew or acquire Ugandan passports.

“We don't have a passport printing machine in Brussels. We send it to UK and that takes time,” she said.

Derrick Senyonjo, one of the presenters, challenged his fellow country men to start a SACCO within the community.

“I am not saying that you can't save but how much would you save per year if each of the 20 people contribut 50 euros per month?” he asked.

He said that would be more valuable than a single person's saving.

In the occasion, Steve Mwase, one of Ugandan writers in Netherlands launched his newly published book, Dunia.

Ten year old Princess Paris, presented tourism opportunities in Uganda with help of video clip and diagrams.

Kenneth Muyingo, had a presentation on how Ugandans can encourage foreigners  in order to earn more money.

“Uganda is a rich country but we cannot get money because we don't take the opportunities that can give us money,” he said.

And improved latrine for the dissalbed pix by andrew masinde