Immigration officer convicted, fined sh2m over passport issued to Burundian

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The Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero has convicted a senior immigration officer of abuse of office for irregularly recommending the issuance of a Ugandan passport to a Burundian national.

Paul Muzungu Birekeyaho, 47, was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of sh2 million for his role in the irregular issuance of the passport. In default of payment, he will serve two years in prison. He was also barred from holding public office for 10 years.

By press time, relatives had already processed the payment forms at the court registry and proceeded to the bank to make the payment.

In a judgment delivered on June 8, 2026, Chief Magistrate Peter Lochomin ruled that the prosecution had proved all the ingredients of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt.

“This court finds that the prosecution has proved all the ingredients of abuse of office beyond reasonable doubt, and I hereby convict the accused accordingly,” Lochomin said.

The magistrate held that Birekeyaho acted arbitrarily and disregarded the law governing the issuance of passports. He noted that under the Immigration Act, immigration officers are required to verify applicants’ particulars and exercise due diligence before recommending the issuance of passports.

During sentencing, senior state attorney Gertrude Nyipir from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, arguing that the offence had tarnished the image of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control and undermined public confidence in the institution.

Nyipir said Birekeyaho abused the trust and responsibility entrusted to him and failed to exercise due diligence as required by his office.

The prosecution stated that on August 9, 2022, in Kampala, while employed as a senior immigration officer, Birekeyaho committed an arbitrary act prejudicial to the interests of the Government of Uganda when he irregularly issued a minute recommending that Ashimwe be granted a Ugandan passport without following the proper procedure.

“The offence of abuse of office attracts a sentence of up to seven years’ imprisonment, and it has become increasingly rampant,” Nyipir submitted.

Appearing before court without legal representation, Birekeyaho pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying he is a family man with two school-going children whose mother lives in Denmark.

Birekeyaho told the court that he had learnt from his mistakes and expressed remorse for his actions. He further argued that, despite his conviction, he still had the capacity to serve the country in a different role and therefore deserved a non-custodial sentence.

“I have served this office for 20 years diligently without ever being accused of any irregularity, and I have learnt my lesson,” Birekeyaho said.

While passing sentence, Lochomin said he had taken into account the fact that Birekeyaho was a first-time offender and had two school-going children who depend on him. He further noted that a fine was an appropriate sentence in the circumstances of the case.