Foreigners born in Uganda do not automatically qualify as citizens

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Mundeyi said during a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters, New Vision reports. Referencing Chapter 3 of the 1995 Constitution (Articles 9-19), Mundeyi noted that the provisions stipulate that a citizen of Uganda must be born in the country and have at least one parent or grandparent who is or was a member of one of the indigenous communities listed in the third schedule of the constitution as of February 1, 1926.

Mundeyi also mentioned that many individuals who initially did not qualify as per the constitution, have successfully naturalised by following the correct procedures.

He outlined the criteria for naturalisation, which include having resided in Uganda for at least 20 years in total, continuously living in the country for the last 24 months before applying, demonstrating adequate knowledge of either a designated Ugandan language or English, maintaining a clean criminal record, and intending to make Uganda their permanent residence after becoming a citizen.

“We are aware of criminal organizations that train non-Ugandans to falsely claim Ugandan citizenship to obtain our travel documents. We encourage Ugandans to report criminals who engage in such activities to appropriate authorities,” Mundeyi said. 

“We encourage the public to seek information from credible sources such as the Constitution and the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act. These are readily available to the public. Furthermore, we advise against making sensational and attention-seeking social media posts that lack a basic understanding of the law and facts, as this could lead to legal consequences if breached,” Mundeyi added. 

The ministry noted that the statement aims to clarify misconceptions about citizenship in Uganda and to urge individuals to follow legal procedures for naturalisation.