Passport applicants in Uganda will effective on 1st January 2020 to be required to use an online system to apply and obtain their passports.
The minister of State for Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga Kania, says this new initiative will be more convenient , quicker and precise.
He was speaking during the official launch of the new e-passport portal in Kampala on Thursday, December 19, 2019.
Kania noted that the new e-passport application will reduce crowdedness that has been dominant at the passport offices.
He said this methodology will also help phase-out any dirty dealing by foreigners in accessing passports.
“It eliminates chances of foreigners obtaining Ugandan passports as it has thorough check and interaction with other government agencies relevant to application verification,” Kania said.
Kania added that process involves applicants filling in their details online before conveniently making payments through methods like mobile money, electronic fund transfer, and visa cards.
Under the online system, an applicant is required to log onto the portal and accept the terms, choose the type of service and fill in the passport application form.
He explained that as the manual passport system will effective December 31 be out of use, those who already paid the Shs150,000 for manual passports with a year to receive them must re-apply online with new full amount fees of Shs250,000 for the ordinary ones then demand a refund from URA.
After payment, the applicant will access their account and schedule an appointment on the convenient date for their interview at the passport office.
They are required to come with their application ID, National ID and certificate to confirm their profession (if any) and copy of the recommender’s National ID and copy of the old passport for those renewing.
