CHAPTER 64

THE PASSPORTS ACT.

Arrangement of Sections.

CHAPTER 64

THE PASSPORTS ACT.

Commencement: 1 December, 1982.

An Act to provide for the issue of passports and other travel documents and other matters connected therewith or incidental

thereto.

1. Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

1. “Minister” means the Minister responsible for internal affairs;

2. “passport” means a passport issued under section 4;

3. “passport control officer” means a person appointed under section 2.

2. Establishment of the office of passports control officer.

1. There shall be a passports control officer who shall be a public officer.

2. Subject to any written law relating to the appointment of persons to the public service, the Minister shall, by notice in the Gazette, appoint a senior immigration officer to be a passports control officer.

3. Powers of passports control officer.

The administration, control and supervision of all matters relating to passports and any other travel documents shall be vested in the passports control officer, subject to the directions of the Minister.

4. Power to issue passports, etc.

1. Subject to this Act and any other written law, the passports control officer may issue a passport to, or renew a passport held by, any Ugandan.

2. In addition to passports the passports control officer may issue other travel documents to qualifying persons as may be required.

5. Types of passports, etc.

There shall be such types and categories of passports and other travel documents as the Minister may, from time to time, by statutory instrument prescribe.

6. Period of validity.

1. Subject to section 12, any passport issued under this Act shall be valid for five years and shall be eligible for renewal for a further five years such that the cumulative validity shall not exceed ten years.

2. Other travel documents shall be valid for such period as the passports control officer may, from time to time, determine.

7. Passport to be valid in named countries.

A passport issued under section 4 shall be valid only in the countries specified in that passport, but on application by the holder, the Minister may endorse additional countries.

8. Endorsement of children.

Where the holder of a passport has children, his or her children may be endorsed on the passport, but children of or above the age of sixteen years shall have separate passports.

9. Wife alone not to use husband’s passport.

Where a passport includes the particulars of the holder’s wife, the wife shall not use that passport when travelling alone.

10. Requirements before issue of passport.

Any person applying for a passport shall produce evidence to the effect that he or she is a citizen of Uganda and may be required by the passports control officer to comply with any of the following—

1. to furnish evidence of any recognised or acceptable sponsorship;

2. to deposit with a commercial bank, for a period of five years, a sum of not less than five thousand shillings;

3. to sign a security bond with a bank, reputable firm or insurance company as a financial guarantee;

4. any other requirement which may be prescribed by the Minister by statutory instrument.

11. Disqualification from holding a passport.

The passports control officer may not issue a passport where, in his or her opinion, the issue of a passport to any person would be prejudicial to the interests of the State and, in particular, shall not issue a passport to any of the following—

1. a person against whom any criminal proceedings are pending in any court of law;

2. a habitual criminal;

3. a person having a mental disorder or disease of the mind, unless he or she is proceeding for medical treatment;

4. an undischarged bankrupt.

12. Withdrawal of passport.

The Minister may order the withdrawal or temporary seizure of a passport from any holder in the following circumstances—

1. where the holder is lawfully arrested on suspicion of having committed a felony;

2. where the holder, according to court records, is a habitual criminal;

3. where the holder is an undischarged bankrupt;

4. where the holder is suffering from mental disorder or disease of the mind;

5. where a Ugandan is deported or repatriated to Uganda and the conditions or reasons for his or her deportation or repatriation are still standing; and

6. any other reason which, in the Minister’s opinion, would be prejudicial to the interests of the State or of the holder of the passport.

13. Offences and penalties.

(1) Any person who fails to surrender a passport or any other travel document when required to do so by the passports control officer commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand

shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

2. Any person who, without lawful authority of the passports control officer, makes, prints or binds any material, where in part or in whole, with intent to produce a passport or any other travel document commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

3. Any person who unlawfully alters, forges, causes to be altered or forged any part of a passport or other travel document commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

4. Any person who without lawful authority issues, renews, distributes or has in his or her possession any passport or other travel document commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

5. Any person who fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the issue of a passport commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

14. Appeal to Minister.

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the passports control officer may, within thirty days of being informed of the decision, appeal to the Minister.

15. Regulations.

The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations—

1. prescribing the forms of application;

2. prescribing the fees to be paid on issuing of a passport; and

3. generally for better carrying out the provisions of this Act.

History: Act 6/1982; S.I. 4/1983.