Simon Peter Mundeyi spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while addressing a press conference today, June 26, 2023, has said that Ugandan passports are of internationally acceptable standards.
Mundeyi’s statements are in response to Denmark’s decision to reject the current Ugandan Polycarbonate E-passports being issued and prefer the old type.
“There have been rumors on social media about Denmark rejecting our polycarbonate e-passports, so we contacted the Danish officials and the authorities who work there; we talked to them about it, and they clarified that there is some data on our system that they need to verify first.
This came to light after some Ugandans got stranded due to their failure to acquire clearance to travel to Denmark. On probing, they were informed that the Danish embassy was not recognizing the polycarbonate E-passports.
According to the Danish ambassador to Uganda, Singe Winding Albjerg, Denmark is not recognizing the Polycarbonate E- passports that were printed before the new type rolled out in 2019. He however said the authorities have started the verification procedures.
“The embassy has received a specimen from the Ugandan authorities, and according to standard Danish procedures, they have subsequently forwarded it to the relevant and competent Danish authorities for verification and acknowledgement, and that process is standard and it’s still ongoing,” said Alberg.
Mudeyi further revealed that so far, 98 Ugandans have used those Polycarbonate E-passports to travel to Denmark, and about 7000 Ugandans have traveled to various parts of the world using the same.
“We urge people to be patient as the Embassy verifies in two weeks, officials in the Nairobi Embassy, which handles the visa applications, will be done, and Ugandans will travel with ease, once verification is done ,” said Mundeyi.