The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control reveals that foreign nationals are hiring Ugandans to assist them in obtaining passports.
According to Simon Peter Mudenyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a total of 24 foreign individuals have been apprehended for using Ugandan National IDs to fraudulently obtain passports. They allegedly enlisted the help of Ugandan citizens, particularly parents, to achieve this.
These hired parents confessed that they were paid sums ranging from 1 to 2 million Ugandan shillings to sign passport documents for three Congolese nationals who are currently in police custody. The suspects are currently being held at Jinja Road Police Station and will face legal proceedings.
Mudenyi explained that these foreigners go to great lengths to impersonate Ugandan citizens by posing as entire families. One of the key indicators that arouses suspicion is their inability to communicate fluently in the local language. During questioning, they often admit to obtaining Ugandan National IDs through fraudulent means.
Mudenyi emphasized that the authorities have become vigilant in detecting false identities, and foreigners have turned to recruiting Ugandans, mistakenly thinking it would help them obtain passports. Their group arrivals have also become a red flag. The authorities interview them individually, and inconsistencies in their stories reveal their true identities.
So far, the arrested foreigners and their accomplices have come from countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Eritrea.
Mudenyi issued a warning to Ugandans, advising them not to be tempted by monetary offers to act as parents for individuals they do not know. Those caught engaging in such activities will be arrested, prosecuted, and face jail time.
“We have also detained 24 foreigners who attempted to use Ugandan National IDs to obtain our passports. They should remember that our staff members come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, so if they claim to belong to a certain tribe, we will find someone to verify their claims. We can easily identify when they are lying,” Mudenyi stated.