Govt issues new passport, work permit guidelines

KAMPALA-Amidst challenges of dealing with a syndicate of organised fraudsters, the director of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita Gowa, has issued new guidelines, warning passport applicants to stop dealing with agents and third parties.

"The public should note that the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) does not work with agents or dealers.

All forged documents including forged payment receipts and verification printouts submitted to support all applications for our services shall be confiscated and subjected to investigations by the police," Gowa said on Monday during a press conference at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters.

Under the new guidelines, all applicants are supposed to personally apply for passports, work permits, and other related immigration and citizenship services.

Engaging third-party services, Gowa said, will not be tolerated.

"The public is, therefore, warned against seeking services from those unscrupulous individuals in the processing and payment of fees for our services," he said.

Gowa added: "Any application found to be forged will be rejected. The applicant may in addition face more serious consequences that include; a permanent record of fraud in our DCIC database, revocation of your resident or citizenship status, being charged in court or removal from Uganda if you are a foreigner."