Uganda: Government Starts Naturalizing Foreign Nationals
Published: 19/Jan/2015
Source: Uganda Radio Network
In short: Aronda says the forms will be processed immediately and once approved; the applicants will be issued with certificate of Naturalization as Ugandan Citizens.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has rolled out the registration and Naturalization of foreigners before they are issued with National IDs. The exercise which begun this morning and is expected to end on February 18th February 2015 will target non- Ugandan Citizens who are spread out in at least 80 districts of Uganda.
Naturalization is a legal process by which a non- citizen can apply to become a citizen of Uganda. The process is provided for under article 12 of the 1995 constitution and section 16 of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act cap 66.
Gen Aronda Nyakairima, the Internal Affairs Minister says the exercise will be held at Sub counties. He says eligible persons will be able to access and fill out the mandatory forms. Aronda says the forms will be processed immediately and once approved; the applicants will be issued with certificate of Naturalization as Ugandan Citizens.
The National Citizenship and Immigration board has designated officers to verify the applications and approve those who qualify to be granted citizenship by Naturalization. The law stipulates five conditions which should be met by any person applying for Naturalization.
Among the conditions are; one must have lived in Uganda for more than 20 years, must be a resident in Uganda for at least two years prior to the date of application, one must have knowledge of a local language or English and one must prove that once naturalized they intend to stay permanently in Uganda.
Paul Bukenya, the deputy National ID project spokesperson says, Refugees are not eligible to apply for citizenship by Naturalization and should not apply
Read more on URN website.