The Ugandan government has suspended the processing of dual citizenship applications for certain groups, including the Banyarwanda and Sudanese, following a directive from President Yoweri Museveni.
Simon Peter Mundeyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, confirmed the move:
“We have received a directive from the President to stop handling dual citizenship for specific groups.”
The directive comes amid growing concerns over fraudulent applications and unclear lineage claims. Authorities say some individuals have been posing as children of Ugandan citizens to unlawfully acquire passports and IDs.
The Banyarwanda—despite being a constitutionally recognized ethnic group—often struggle to prove ancestral roots in Uganda before 1926, a requirement for citizenship by birth. Sudanese applicants face similar challenges, particularly those born or raised in Uganda but lacking formal documentation.
“We’re currently investigating over 300 cases involving forged identities,” Mundeyi added.
For many affected, this pause feels like erasure. “I was born here, studied here, but I’m being told I don’t belong,” said one applicant who asked not to be named.
The Ministry says applicants can still appeal through the Citizenship Board, the Minister of Internal Affairs, or the High Court, though few find success without proper documentation.
