The current citizenship law framework in Uganda was established by the 1995 Constitution and the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act 1999. The 1995 constitution provides for an explicit ethnic definition of Ugandan citizenship, and includes a schedule listing ethnic groups that are considered Ugandan. For members of those groups, however, citizenship is provided based on birth in Uganda, without need to prove the parent is a citizen — restoring the jus soli citizenship that had existed at independence, but only for indigenous groups (which exclude people of European and Asian descent). Some ethnic groups, such as the Maragoli, have complained at exclusion from citizenship rights because they are excluded from this list. Children of refugees are also excluded from acquiring citizenship based on birth in Uganda.
The constitution provides that spouses of citizens, and persons living in Uganda for twenty years on entry into force of the constitution, as well as others who have “legally and voluntarily” entered the country, are entitled to acquire citizenship by registration. Naturalisation, a more discretionary process, is provided for by the act, based on twenty years residence in Uganda and other conditions.
In 2005, the citizenship provisions in the constitution were amended by Act No.11 of 2005, to permit dual citizenship, change the residence periods for registration as a citizen, and add to the list of “indigenous” groups; the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act was amended in 2009 to match the revised constitution. In 2006 a new Refugees Act was adopted, stating that “the Constitution and any other law in force in Uganda shall apply to the naturalisation of a recognised refugee.” In 2015, a Constitutional Court judgement confirmed that refugees were not eligible for citizenship by registration as provided under the Constitution, but expressed its view that they should be eligible for naturalisation under the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act.
After decades of statelessness, the Benet community in Uganda are struggling to survive and access basic services like education and health care. By Tukundane Yonna in Mount Elgon, Uganda Moses Mwanga Kapchekwengu sits on an old rocking chair outside his […]
By Derrick Wandera & Peter Sserugo The government has set aside Shs600b for renewal of the National ID, which starts in June next year. Addressing the media yesterday, Minister of Internal Affairs Kahinda Otafiire said the money would be used to purchase high-tech […]
The Government of Uganda is set to be dragged to courts law for omitting information about “citizenship by descent” in the registration process for national Identity Cards. The lawsuit is being brought by the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED), under […]
Parliament has stayed processing of the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2022 and tasked government to establish a Constitution Review Commission to comprehensively consider all amendments. The bill moved by Jacob Karubanga, the Member of Parliament for Kibanda South County sought to […]
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency together with 15 civil society organizations from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Sudan, and Rwanda have launched the region’s first statelessness network, to advance ongoing efforts in eradicating statelessness in the region. Comprising human […]
By Munlini Mulera The imposition of the Tibuhaburwa Dynasty is now full steam ahead. General Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa’s contempt for the electoral regulations and military codes of the land will not be the last laws that he will set aside […]
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have sued Government over alleged violations of human rights. CSOs claim that the mandatory nature of the national digital ID system in Uganda, Ndaga Muntu, has excluded poor and marginalized groups from access […]
By Conan Businge The Uganda National Examinations Board wants all candidates registering for the national examinations to have National Identification Numbers (NINs). Much as some of them are below 18 years of age and do not have national identification cards, […]
The High court in Kampala has ordered the Immigration office to give people of Somali origin Ugandan citizenship as long as they fulfil the requirements of the law. The judgment issued through email by justice Musa Ssekaana arises from a […]
By Frank Kamuntu The Civil Division of High Court in Kampala has ordered the Immigration office to give people of Somali origin citizenship as long as they fulfill requirements of the law. The judgment issued through email by Justice Musa […]
By Hafitha Issa The Civil Division of High Court in Kampala has ordered the Immigration office to give people of Somali Origin citizenship as long as they fulfill requirements of the law. The Judgment issued through email by Justice Musa […]
CIVIL SUIT NO. 437 OF 2019 JUDGMENT The plaintiffs instituted this suit against the defendant seeking for orders that; A declaration that the plaintiffs and other eligible members of the Uganda Somali’s Community are citizens by birth. A declaration that […]