Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act

The Minister may appoint different dates for different provisions of this Act to come into force.

Section contains a list of defined terms (for example: "alien", "board", "child", "Director", "entry permit", "dual citizenship", and others) used in the Act.

Persons aggrieved by board decisions may appeal to the Minister within thirty days; the Minister may extend that period, decide on appeal (confirm, reverse, or refer), and persons may further appeal certain Minister decisions to the High Court within thirty days, whose decision is final.

Members of the board, immigration officers, and persons acting under their directions are exempt from civil or criminal liability for acts or omissions done in good faith when exercising board functions.

Establishes the National Citizenship and Immigration Board composition; requires board members to be Ugandan citizens of high moral character; sets four-year terms with one reappointment; permits remuneration determined by the Minister; allows the President to remove members only for specified grounds.

The board must have a seal.

The provisions of the Second Schedule apply in relation to meetings of the board.

The Director must act as secretary to the board and perform functions for board meetings as the board directs.

The board is required to carry out functions including issuing Uganda passports and other travel documents; granting and cancelling citizenship by registration and naturalisation; granting and cancelling immigration permits; determining questions about implementation or referred by the Minister; performing functions assigned under the Act or other enactments; and performing any other function determined by the Minister.

The Director must give effect to board decisions; immigration officers must assist the board and perform duties as directed; the board may review actions taken by immigration officers.

The board must have its own vote.

The Minister may give general policy directions to the board or any immigration officer; the board or immigration officer must comply with those directions.

Specifies who is a citizen of Uganda by birth.

Foundlings under five found in Uganda with unknown parents are presumed citizens by birth; a child under eighteen adopted by a Ugandan citizen may be registered as a citizen on application.

Citizenship by registration: certain categories of persons (including persons born in Uganda, spouses of Ugandan citizens after five years of marriage, long-term residents, and those resident since the Constitution’s commencement) may be registered as citizens of Uganda upon application.

Section Procedure for registration of citizenship Section A person shall not be registered as a citizen of Uganda unless he or she— Any person to whom section 14 (1) or (2) applies may apply to the board in writing in the prescribed form,

Sets who may be naturalised, requires applicants to apply in writing and meet conditions, requires the board to issue a certificate, makes an applicant a citizen from the date of issue, allows the board to refuse if immigration file contains substantial inconsistencies, and empowers the Minister to make reciprocal arrangements by order.

The board may deprive a person of citizenship acquired by registration on specified grounds (voluntary foreign citizenship, hostile military service, fraud/deceit/bribery/false statements in application, or espionage).

The board may, by order, deprive a person of citizenship by naturalisation on specified grounds including fraud, service for a hostile country, espionage, treason, certain sentences within five years after naturalisation, criminal acts against state security, renunciation, and voluntary acquisition of another citizenship.

Ugandan citizens aged eighteen or over who voluntarily acquire another country's citizenship may keep their Ugandan citizenship, and non-citizens who acquire Ugandan citizenship may keep their other citizenship, both subject to the Constitution, this Act and any law enacted by Parliament.

A citizen of Uganda who wants to acquire another country's citizenship while keeping Ugandan citizenship must give written notice to the board and provide specified supporting documents.

Lists the conditions a non-Ugandan must meet to acquire Ugandan citizenship while retaining another citizenship.

A person applying for dual citizenship must, before registration, satisfy the board that they meet a set of listed conditions.

People who hold Ugandan citizenship and the citizenship of another country are not qualified to hold any offices of State set out in the Fifth Schedule; Parliament may amend that Schedule by resolution.

The board may, by order, deprive a person of Ugandan citizenship where the person holds Ugandan citizenship in addition to another country's citizenship by virtue of dual nationality under section 19A or 19B, upon grounds in sections 17 or 18, or if that person acquires a third citizenship.

If a person ceases to be a Ugandan citizen, they are treated as a citizen of their prior country; they lose Ugandan citizen rights except legally acquired property rights; and they remain liable for acts done before loss of citizenship.

Former Ugandan citizens who renounced citizenship at birth may apply to the board to re-acquire Ugandan citizenship; the board may grant re-acquisition if satisfied there is no threat to public order and security; successful applicants must take the oath of allegiance.

A citizen of Uganda who acquires foreign citizenship may renounce Ugandan citizenship by making the prescribed declaration; the board must register such a declaration and, upon registration, the person ceases to be a citizen; the board may refuse registration during a war with the foreign country or if registration would be contrary to public policy.

If the board orders deprivation of a person's Ugandan citizenship under section 17 or 18, that person must cease to be a citizen upon the making of the order; renunciation or deprivation does not remove liability for offences committed before it.

Documents, register entries, certified copies, and statements made under this Part shall be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, are taken to have been made by or on behalf of the person they purport to be by.

It is an offence for any person to knowingly make a materially false statement to procure anything under this Part, and for any person to fail to comply with regulation requirements about acquiring a certificate of registration or naturalisation; both offences carry on-conviction penalties of a fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty currency points or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.

A person granted registration or naturalisation must produce, within ninety days, evidence that they have renounced any other nationality or citizenship, otherwise their registration or naturalisation will be cancelled.

Periods of stay in Uganda while holding certain temporary passes (special pass; dependent pass to a holder of an entry permit other than as wife or husband; pupils pass; visitors pass; convention travel document) are excluded when calculating residence time for acquiring citizenship by registration or naturalisation.

The Minister may make regulations under section 82 about the listed matters relating to Part III (forms, registration, oath administration, notices, cancellation/amendment of registration or naturalisation, fees, evidence, and incidental matters).

Section 27 was repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 28 was repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 29 has been repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 30 was repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 31 was repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 32 was repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 33 repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 34 is repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 35 was repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 36 repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

section 37 repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015

Section 38 repealed by section 86(4)(c) of Act 4 of 2015.

Every Ugandan is entitled to a passport or other travel documents.

Passport control officers must be immigration officers; those officers shall issue or renew passports and travel documents on behalf of the board to persons who qualify; the board may delegate issuing functions to Uganda diplomatic missions and holds administration, control and supervision of passports and travel documents.

The Minister may prescribe, from time to time, the types and categories of passports and other travel documents by regulations made under section 82.

A passport issued under this Act is valid for up to ten years and may be renewed for ten years; other travel documents have validity periods set by the board.

A passport issued under section 40 is valid for all countries except any countries specified in the passport as not valid.

A passport holder may apply to have their children endorsed in the passport, except children aged sixteen or older who must have their own passport.

Applicants for a passport must produce evidence that they are citizens of Uganda; the board may require applicants to comply with specified requirements such as producing their national identification number.

The board may refuse to issue a passport when, in its opinion, issuing it would be prejudicial to the public interest, including to persons with pending criminal proceedings or habitual criminals.

The board may order withdrawal or temporary seizure of a passport in specified circumstances; the passport must be returned to the board, and failure to do so is an offence punishable by a fine up to thirty currency points or imprisonment up to six months or both.

Creates offences for failing to surrender passports or travel documents and for making, forging, altering, issuing or possessing passports without lawful authority, each carrying specified fines and/or imprisonment terms.

Regulations may be made under section 82 to prescribe the form of applications under this Part, to prescribe the fees payable on issuing passports and other travel documents, and generally to carry out the provisions of this Part of the Act.

An immigration officer may, for the purposes of exercising functions under the Act, interrogate persons (among other powers listed).

The Director may designate immigration inspectors and investigators as necessary.

Persons who fall into any of the listed categories are "prohibited immigrants" and their entry into or presence in Uganda is unlawful except as provided by the Act.

Persons must have a valid entry permit, certificate of permanent residence or pass to enter or remain in Uganda; the Minister may exempt classes of persons; persons seeking employment under entry permit class G may only enter after their permit application is granted.

The board may cancel or issue entry permits; classes of permits are set out in the Fourth Schedule.

Sets eligibility criteria and procedures for a certificate of permanent residence: a person must prove specified criteria (contribution, ten years' continuous legal residence, good character/integrity, tax compliance, no criminal antecedents, not bankrupt, or qualifying marriage), applications are to be made in Form E, the board may grant certificates and entitles holders to remain for the period stipulated, and the board may revoke or cancel certificates on specified grounds.

Section 56 repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

The Director must maintain a prescribed-form register recording names and particulars of people granted entry permits, certificates of permanent residence or passes; the board may require particulars and may call for and inspect registers at least once a year to discharge its functions.

People who remain in Uganda must at all times carry their entry permit, certificate of permanent residence or pass and must produce it when required by an immigration officer; failure without reasonable excuse is an offence punishable by a fine up to sixty currency points or imprisonment up to twelve months or both.

Non-citizens must not be employed or engage in private business in Uganda unless they hold a valid entry permit, certificate of permanent residence or special pass.

The Minister may order prohibited immigrants or unlawfully present persons to be deported; the Minister may vary or revoke orders; affected persons may appeal to the High Court within fifteen days and to the Court of Appeal; courts may detain or stay deportation in specified circumstances; the High Court must rule on stay applications within two working days.

A deportation order becomes effective on the date the Minister signs it, or on another date the Minister specifies in the order.

A person against whom a deportation order has been made must be deported to the place from where they came or to any place they consent to, provided that place's Government consents to receive them.

Deported persons transiting Uganda may be arrested without a warrant and detained by an immigration officer; carriers leaving Uganda must, if required and on payment, take detained persons on board and provide passage and accommodation.

The Director may arrange organised departures from Uganda for persons convicted under this Act or who contravene its provisions; such persons ordered to leave must pay a fine equivalent to that in section 59(3) and must meet their travel costs.

Citizens of Uganda are generally exempt from Part VI, but may be proceeded against and punished for offences covered by the Part; immigration officers may use powers to determine citizenship; where citizenship is questioned, the person must prove it.

A person who commits any of the listed acts (for example refusing to answer lawful questions, false declarations, unlawful entry, remaining after permit expiry) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both and may, in addition, be deported.

Section 67 was repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 68 was repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 69 was repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 70 was repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 71 repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015

Section 72 was repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 73 has been repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Section 74 repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

The registrar of companies and business names must, upon a written request from the Director and from time to time, furnish the Director a list of all registered businesses owned by aliens in Uganda.

Aliens are prohibited from holding executive committee membership in trade unions or youth movements, forming/managing/joining political parties, and (unless authorised) voting in Ugandan elections or referendums.

Aliens who attempt acts likely to cause sedition or disaffection, or who promote industrial unrest without two years' bona fide engagement in the industry, commit offences and are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 currency points or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.

If a complaint about an alien's conduct at work is lodged with the immigration office, the Director may forward the complaint to an industrial or labour court, the court shall submit its findings to the Director, and the Director may take any necessary immigration action.

Section 79 was repealed by section 86(4)(d) of Act 4 of 2015.

Anyone who contravenes the terms or conditions of a permit, certificate or pass issued under this Act, or who contravenes any other provision of this Act or any lawful order or direction given under the Act, is caught by this provision.

In proceedings for an offence under the Act, a person is taken to know the contents of any declaration, return or statement they have signed or marked, even if they have not read it, provided they know the nature of the document.

The Minister may, by statutory instrument and in consultation with the board, make regulations to carry out this Act; regulations may provide for many procedural matters and penalties, and the onus is on a person to prove they are not an alien or are a citizen of Uganda.

The Minister may, with the approval of the Cabinet, by statutory instrument amend the First Schedule to this Act.

Repeals the Uganda Citizenship Act; the Immigration Act; the Passports Act; and the Aliens (Registration and Control) Act.

Documents (entry permits, certificates, travel documents) valid immediately before this Act continue to have effect; the immigration department existing immediately before commencement must continue serving the board, subject to the Constitution.