45 Ugandans get dual citizenship, land verification in one day

At least 45 Ugandans in the United States of America on Sunday received dual citizenship and many had their land titles verified by respective government agencies in a campaign by the Ugandan mission to bring services closer to the citizens in the diaspora.

Ms Florence Kiremerwa, the Special Presidential Assistant on diaspora, and head of the campaign says that for quite a while Ugandans abroad have been duped by relatives and friends in sham land deals. While others have had issues applying for dual citizenship as the process is tedious and bureaucratic.

“We invited a delegation from Ministry of Lands led by Ms Amongi ( Minister for lands) and another from Internal affairs/Immigration such that we offer these services here (USA) to our citizens quickly and conveniently,” Ms Kiremerwa said during the event in Washington DC.

“I have lived in the diaspora and I understand the problems that our people have, it’s partly why I was appointed by the president (Museveni) and I thank him for that. This is the beginning, more workshops of this kind will be organised in other countries,” she added.

Mr Saad Kityamuwesi from the dual citizenship registration directorate said that despite dual citizenship being a constitutional right for Ugandans; “A citizen of Uganda who desires to acquire the citizenship of another country while retaining his or her citizenship of Uganda shall give notice in writing to the board (National Citizenship and Immigration) in a prescribed form and accompanied by statutory declaration that he or she is a citizen of Uganda."

Application for dual citizenship status costs $400 (Sh1.4m).

The delegations present at the event included; Ministry of Internal Affairs permanent secretary, Dr. Benon Mutambi, commissioners; Godffrey Wanzira, Nicholas Ongom, among others, while Lands Ministry was represented by the minister Betty Amongi.