DCI: Over 40,000 Passports Left Unclaimed

Simon Peter Mundeyi, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has shared concerning statistics about passport processing in Uganda.

Mundeyi says despite successfully processing 320,000 passports this year, the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCI) finds itself grappling with a staggering challenge over 40,000 passports left unclaimed.

Mundeyi revealed the thorough steps citizens undertake to acquire their passports, from detailed online applications and bank payments to in-person interviews. He however says a perplexing trend has emerged where a substantial number of individuals fail to claim their passports even after completing the thorough procedure.

He says the consequence has led to the Kyambogo collection center, struggling to accommodate the mounting pile of unclaimed passports.

“People take time to fill in the online details for acquiring the passports, they pay money in the bank and also come here for physical interviews. Afterwards, they do not come to claim these passports. Our Kyambogo collection centre is full and we have nowhere to keep this huge number of unclaimed passports,” Mundeyi said.

Mundeyi further revealed that over 5,000 passports are stuck due to partial details, primarily involving children. The spokesperson emphasized that mothers frequently leave the section for the father’s details blank, thereby hindering the passport processing system.

Mundeyi explained that some women, refrain from disclosing fathers’ details due to instances of incest. Shockingly, the DCI recorded 52 cases this year where women acknowledged their relatives as the fathers of their children.

Another contributing factor is the complexity of relationships. Some women, engaged with multiple partners, face challenges identifying the exact father of their children. Additionally, cases were reported where men subjected children to DNA tests, leaving some mothers with fatherless children.

“We have noticed that women come here to process passports for their children but leave the section for the father’s details blank.” he added