The Ministry of Internal Affairs is advising travelers to use passports when crossing borders. They recommend getting certificates of identity if you don’t have a passport.
Simon Peter Mundeyi, the Ministry’s spokesperson, spoke to the media in Naguru on November 18, 2024. He talked about the problems Ugandan travelers face when using expired national IDs to go to Kenya and Rwanda. Border officials don’t accept expired IDs, which can lead to extra fees.
Mundeyi stressed the importance of passports and getting identity certificates for those without passports. The certificate lets you travel in East Africa and other member countries for 40,000 Ugandan shillings.
He explained that the certificate costs 40,000 shillings, and applicants need to show a copy of their national ID or another Ugandan citizenship proof. Extensions for national IDs and border arrangements with Kenya and Rwanda are still in effect.
Travelers going to Kenya and Rwanda must use valid IDs, and those with expired ones should try other ID documents to avoid problems at the border.
Mundeyi urged Ugandans to renew their national IDs at the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and mentioned about 15,000 incomplete passports due to applicant errors. He also warned people about fake services promising quick passport processing.
Internal Affairs State Minister, Gen David Muhoozi, confirmed in Parliament on August 15, 2024, that national IDs expiring in 2024 will stay valid for an extra year.
