MPs demand for diplomatic passports

MPs have asked the government to consider upgrading the status of their passports from official, to diplomatic passports.

Currently diplomatic passports which are red in colour are issued to only VIPs including ministers, ambassadors, religious and traditional leaders.

However according to the MPs, there is need for a change in the regulations, to have MPs issued diplomatic passports saying they  also fall under the VIP status.

"Why are we not entitled to diplomatic passports yet people like cultural and traditional leaders are among the people who get diplomatic passports," Hamson Denis Obua, the Ajuri County MP asked.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga also tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to explain to Parliament the category of people that are entitled to diplomatic passports.

"Tell us who has the right to diplomatic passports," Kadaga ordered.

In response, Internal Affairs Minister, Gen. Jeje Odongo, who was briefing the House on the shortage of ordinary passports, told the MPs that according to the law, MPs are only entitled to official passports and not diplomatic passports.

He advised the lawmakers, to consider amending the Passports Act, to have the MPs issued diplomatic passports.