Forgeries worry Japan

By Frank Sserwaniko The Japanese Embassy in Nairobi, has explained that Ugandan spare parts importers are increasingly finding difficulties to get visas, because of the frequent misinformation surrounding their application forms. Business Vision May 31 reported that many shops selling secondhand motorcycles and spare parts in Kampala are empty, because of the delays in getting Japanese visas to importers. In a statement faxed to The New Vision Monday, the First Secretary and Head of the Visa Section at the Japanese Embassy in Nairobi, Mr. H. Maekawa said many Ugandan applicants submitted forged passports, bank statements and certificates of incorporation and licenses of their companies. He said this has forced the Embassy to scrutinise the documents more carefully than before. "Recently one Ugandan applicant was arrested in Nairobi for submitting a forged bank document as per the request of the Barclays Bank of Kenya," Maekawa said. He regretted that the delays caused by strict scrutiny had also affected genuine importers. But he stressed, "I would also like to point out that our rules have neither been changed nor additional rules introduced due to robbery incidents in Japan," he added. Sources among the local importers admitted that some of these forgeries occur, but insisted they wanted to be told a specific period for scrutinising the documents. "We know some of these forgeries occur, but they reject the forged documents on verification and no one complains about that. They should tell us how long it takes to verify and issue the visas so that we plan accordingly," one importer said. Meanwhile the importers of Japanese motorcycles and used spare parts have formed an association to help them solve problems in their trade. Used Automobile and Spare Parts Association (UASPA) has already written to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs petitioning him to intercede on their behalf. Ends