Nairobi, August 15, 2023 - An escalating wave of Kenyans rushing to acquire Ugandan national identity cards has ignited concern and prompted Uganda's Foreign Affairs Ministry to intervene. The surge in this illicit activity, aimed at circumventing legal regulations, has raised alarm bells and triggered discussions about potential criminal implications.
Reports from Ugandan authorities have indicated that not only Kenyans but also citizens from other East African nations have been engaging in this trend, exploiting the laxity in Uganda's identity card issuance system. Of particular concern is the potential misuse of these cards for criminal activities, with drug trafficking being one of the prominent offenses.
One of the main apprehensions raised by officials is the potential manipulation of the 2026 General Election in Uganda, as well as the fraudulent acquisition of Ugandan passports by individuals impersonating citizens. The absence of a centralized database within the country has facilitated the relatively smooth acquisition of these identity cards.
Foreign affairs and security experts have voiced concerns over the vulnerabilities in Uganda's ID issuance process, which make it easier for ineligible individuals to fraudulently obtain identification documents by posing as Ugandan nationals. In instances where individuals have been apprehended, reports suggest that bribery of immigration officials has been used to secure their release and hasten approval for their applications.
The scope of the issue is extensive, with over 10,000 illegally issued ID cards already flagged by Ugandan authorities as of August 8. This disturbing trend goes beyond Kenyan nationals, with residents from Burundi, China, India, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan also taking advantage of the lack of a centralized database to acquire Ugandan identity cards.
To address this concerning situation, the Ugandan Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced plans to cancel and destroy all illegally obtained IDs. The country's digital passport has also gained global attention, making it an attractive target for foreign nationals seeking alternate means of entry into other nations.
Security experts have noted that these illicitly obtained ID cards and passports are often used to obscure identities and unlawfully enter countries with stringent entry requirements, such as the United States and China. The use of Ugandan passports by unauthorized individuals, particularly for nefarious purposes like drug trafficking, has raised red flags in these nations.
The Ugandan passport's global ranking varies according to different passport indices, with the VisaGuide Passport Index placing it at 141st as of July 2023. In contrast, the Guide Passport Ranking Index ranks it higher, at 83rd among passports worldwide. As authorities grapple with this growing challenge, cross-border collaborations and enhanced security measures are likely to be essential in mitigating the misuse of Ugandan identity documents.