The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced plans to open a new Ugandan diaspora passport office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aiming to bring passport services closer to citizens living and working in the region.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Ministry spokesperson Simon Mundeyi said the decision follows growing demand from Ugandan migrant workers who often face significant travel challenges when accessing services at embassies in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or back in Uganda.
“Many of our people have had to travel long distances just to renew their passports. Starting July 2025, our new office in Riyadh will ease that burden by offering services right where they are,” Mundeyi said.
The Riyadh office will become Uganda’s eighth diaspora passport centre, joining existing facilities in London, Washington D.C., Ottawa, Copenhagen, Pretoria, Beijing, and Abu Dhabi. Although Turkey was initially considered for the expansion, Saudi Arabia was prioritized due to its larger Ugandan population.
Mundeyi confirmed that the necessary infrastructure and staffing are already in place, with operations expected to begin in mid-2025.
In addition to international efforts, the Ministry is also implementing reforms to enhance passport service delivery within Uganda.
Passport enrolment—including fingerprinting and biometric data capture—will remain centralized at the Ministry’s headquarters. However, passport collection has been relocated to a newly established centre in Kyambogo, Nakawa Division.
“We now have two service points—one for enrolment and another for collection. This change is aimed at decongesting our headquarters and making services more efficient,” Mundeyi explained.
To further improve accessibility, the Ministry is rolling out mobile passport enrolment kits. These kits will allow officials to capture biometric data from clients who are unable to travel, such as hospital patients or Ugandans living in remote areas—both within the country and abroad.
“This innovation is especially crucial for our diaspora in the United States, where interstate travel can be costly and time-consuming. With mobile kits, our officers will reach the people,” said Mundeyi, adding that similar services will also benefit citizens within Uganda.
