Ugandan citizens can now apply for passports online following the government’s move to introduce the e-application portal. The Ugandan government introduced electronic passports-(e-passports) in 2018 based on international standards, however, the process still remained slow with most applicants making many trips to line up at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Head Office. The Uganda Revenue Authority-the tax body in Uganda accomplished the process and e-passport systems are now live. This service becomes second after the e-visa interface. The digital passport Ugandan citizens wishing to obtain a passport can now do so through https://www.passports.go.ug/. The introduction of e-passport is indeed a great relieve!

The portal is user-friendly and just like other e-application portals, first, the applicant should read and understand the set terms of reference prior to filling details into the system. The privacy policy on the website states that the applicants’ information is kept only for a short period of time to meet the purpose for which it is collected. This is to ensure that the applicants’ information is well protected from any illegal usage, access, and disclosure. There is also a disclaimer on the time in which the passport can take to be processed. The processing time usually varies depending on the details provided and additional checks that will be conducted by authorities. As soon as you fill the details into the system, you will be provided with a reference number that you can use to track your application.

The system works in such a way that once you fill the application form, you will be provided with a Payment Registration Number and you will be required to pay. On making payment, you can make an appointment with the authorities on the same platform. The e-passport system is also interfaced with the NIRA system to ensure that the applicants’ details are matching. The amazing part about the newly launched e-passports application process is that Ugandan citizens now need only two days (48 hours) to obtain their passport unlike before when the process was very tedious. To others, it is like a miracle. Previously, applicants had to secure and fill the forms, attach photographs and other necessary documents, searched for signatures of the recommender and then present the file to the immigration officer for manual processing. The state minister of internal affairs-Obiga Kania added that all the applicants who paid manually should make sure that their applications are presented to the Passport Control Office by end of December 2019 because it is when the manual procedure will be phased out.

Starting 15th January 2020, the East African electronic passport will also be introduced to replace the current passports and this in compliance to the East African Community (EAC) heads of state’s directive. The ordinary passports will be obtained at shs.250,000; the service passport can be secured at shs.400,000, a diplomatic passport can be obtained at shs.500,000. To process an express ordinary passport in 3 days, you need shs400,000. Applicants who paid shs.150,000 for passports and haven’t yet received them are advised to go online to apply for the passport again and pay the new passport fee of URA after you have been issued the passport. The newly introduced passports have a chip with all the applicants’ personal data. The data is also integrated with special gates at Entebbe International Airport which are known as the e-gates.

How to apply for e-passports in Uganda
Applicants can apply for e-passports by logging on to www.passports.go.ug and then accept the terms of the service, select the type of service and fill in the passport application form. Later, select the mode of payment, print out the application identity card with the payment registration number (PRN). Proceed to effect payment using the mode chosen-cash, mobile money, EFT, pay way and any kind of visa cards.
Once you are done paying, access your account and schedule an appointment on the date convenient to you for an interview at the passport office. You will be required to have a valid application ID, National ID, a certificate to confirm your profession in case you have one and a copy of the recommender’s national ID plus a copy of the old passport in case you are renewing.