Kampala, (UG):- The Uganda Police Spokesperson Mr Kituuma Rusoke has warned that any Ugandan found in possession of a fake diplomatic passport will face arrest either at border points or at the airport.
“If someone presents a passport at the airport, border points, or any location where it’s not required, and it’s detected as fake, the airport police who work closely with immigration authorities will handle it,” Kituuma said in an interview with local newspaper Monitor.
According to Kituuma, “Once the relevant authority identifies the passport as inauthentic or fake, they hand it over to us, and we begin investigations. We cannot pursue every person who shows off a passport.”
The Police spox was responding to recent reports in the media over an ongoing investigation into the issuance of allegedly fake diplomatic passports to ordinary citizens.
One of such incident is embattled businessman Rugiirwa Katatumba, a son to former honorary consul of Pakistan (late) Bonney Katatumba, who sparked public condemnation after appearing on social media with a diplomatic passport.
Speaking to the media last month, Simon Peter Mundeyi, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that no diplomatic passport had ever been issued to Rugiirwa, per an investigation. “People may want to show off on social media with red passports. The passport Rugiirwa displayed might have come from Nasser Road or could belong to a parent,” Mundeyi said.
“He did not open the passport for inspection. Diplomatic passports are only issued to individuals of high standing in society or those holding significant public office,” Mundeyi explained further.
Ugandan authorities emphasized that once Rugiirwa is found presenting a fake diplomatic passport in official situations, he will be arrested and charged.
Official figures indicate that last year alone, the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) cancelled over 288 diplomatic passport applications due to applicants failing to meet the eligibility criteria.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has repeatedly denied allegations of issuing diplomatic passports to ordinary citizens holding that these are only issued to individuals such as the president, first lady, speaker and deputy speaker, chief justice, ministers, permanent secretaries, envoys, governors, deputy governors and chancellors.
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