Ugandans in South Sudan urged to replace old passports, national ID
Ugandan citizens living in South Sudan have been urged to change their national identity documents to electronic format.
In a statement dated February 4, 2022, Uganda Ambassador to South Sudan, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Balya said citizens from the neighbouring country can apply for their new Passports and Certificates of Identity online as the Embassy does not currently issue the documents.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in South Sudan wishes to inform all Ugandans in the Republic of South Sudan, South Sudan Immigration Authority and the General Public that the Government of the Republic of Uganda is in the process of changing the Certificate of Identity (CI).
“The Certificate of Identity is currently not being issued at the Embassy until the process has been finalized by the Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC),” the statement reads in part.
He added: “All citizens are therefore encouraged to replace their passports/Certificates of Identity with the new International Electronic Passports.”
The embassy said the deadline for phasing out the old Passports and Certificates of Identity has elapsed adding that it would not account for such documents obtained through fraudulent means.
“The Government of the Republic of Uganda through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) issued a statement confirming 4th April 2022 as the deadline date for phasing out the old machine-readable passports,” it said.
“It has come to the notice of the embassy that there are forged Certificates of Identity being issued by individuals who claim to be staff of the Embassy at a price between USD 50 and USD 100. The Embassy, therefore, condemns the act and is not accountable for such documents,” the Embassy added.
There are a number of Ugandan nationals living in South Sudan, particular Juba. According to the national immigration department, some of them are undocumented.
