EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

REPUBLIC
OF
UGANDA

PASSPORT
 UGANDA MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
ANTI-PLAGIARISM POLICY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on the EAC e-passport

Uganda Ordinary Uganda Ordinary

EAC e-Passport EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY EAC e-Passport EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

Outer Cover Outer Cover

REPUBLIC REPUBLIC
OF OF
UGANDA UGANDA

PASSPORT PASSPORT

Uganda
Diplomatic EAC EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

e-Passport Outer
Cover REPUBLIC
OF
UGANDA

DIPLOMATIC
PASSPORT

The Republic of Uganda

Produced by the Ministry of East African Community Affairs in conjunction with the Directorate of
Citizenship and Immigration Control, Ministry of Internal Affairs.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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on the EAC e-passport

Inner Front
Cover
SECURITY FEATURES
• Intaglio Printing of Vertical
Border in selected patterns
• Micro Printing of the text
“ East African Community
• To include latent image of the
text “EAC” in the bottom middle
• Invisible Ultra Violet printing
of the map of Uganda in
the background

Special feature (Uganda

Crested Crane)

Visa Pages with EAC and

Uganda Emblems
4 UGANDA MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
ANTI-PLAGIARISM POLICY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on the EAC e-passport

EAC Heads of State at the launch of the EAC e-passport. (L-R) Dr. Joseph Butore, 2nd Vice President of the
Republic of Burundi, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli
of the United Republic of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda and
Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya.

FAQs on the EAC e-passport

During 17th ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State Summit in Arusha on
2nd March 2016, the EAC Heads of State launched the new international East African Community
e-passport and directed that commencement of its issuance takes effect from 1st January, 2017;
and implement the phase out programme for the current East African and national passports
from 1st January, 2017 to 31st December, 2018. The Heads of State further directed partner states
to undertake awareness creation programmes and other continuous outreach programmes.
The new EAC e-passport is a fully digitised document incorporating biometric security, making it fully
compliant with international best practises, and therefore accepted at border controls all over the world.
This is the departure from the old EAC Passport which was usable within the EAC only.

Here below are the frequently asked questions about the new generation EAC e-passport.

1. What is process of acquiring the new generation EAC e-passport?

The procurement process of the e-passport is still on-going. Currently we have no special application
process for the E-passport. The process of getting a Ugandan passport has not changed. Please, you
may visit this website. http://immigration.go.ug/content/passports-other-travel-documents.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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on the EAC e-passport

2. If I have a Ugandan passport do I need to get The East African passport

Currently Ugandans can hold both the Ugandan and the East African Passport. The current East
African passport is used for travel only in the East African region. However, the new e-passport will
be internationally recognised and will replace the current East Africa passport as well as our national
passports. In other words all the EAC partner states shall use one passport – the international
E-passport

3. When are you launching the new EAC e-passport?

The Heads of State of the EAC countries directed that Partner States begin issuing the new
international EAC passport beginning January 2017. Partner states are at different stages of
preparation. As Uganda we have a committee which is fast tracking the procurement of the EAC
e-passport and once they are ready to launch we shall inform all Ugandans.

4. How much will it cost to acquire one

Once the procurement process is complete we shall be able to advertise the price of the new
passport. The current rates for services can be reached at http://immigration.go.ug/about/fees-
services-offered-directorate-citizenship-and-immigration-control-effective-1st-july-2015

5. What happens to people who are applying for new passports now? Will they
be issued with the Ugandan passport or the EAC e-passport?
Upon successful submission of your passport application, it takes ten working days to get a passport.
So anybody applying now will certainly be issued with the Ugandan passport or the old EAC passport.
However, the Heads of State gave Partner States timelines which will be followed; 2nd January 2017
to 31st December 2018 will be for issuing new passport but at the same time using both the old
Uganda/ EA passport together with the new international passport. On 1st January 2019 we shall
stop using the old passports and we shall all be using the international EAC e-passport. If anyone
wishes to wait until we start to issue the new e-passport he/she is free; but experience has shown
that a passport is a basic. Once you need it you cannot wait.

6. What about people who got passports recently and haven’t used them. Do
they have to pay again to acquire the new one?
It is a right according to the constitution to hold a passport. There is no penalty whatsoever for not
using the passport. However, if you lose the passport or mishandled it leading to it being defaced
or children writing in it, you will be liable for fine of Ugx100, 000 in addition to the fees for a new
passport at the time when you are seeking to replace or renew it.

7. What is the validity, (in terms of time) of the new passport?

The current validity of a passport is 10 years and so far no changes have been proposed for the new
international passport. It will also have a validity of 10 years.

8. What will happen to visas I have you in my old passport?? Is it going to be

attached or the visa information is going to be kept as back up in digital form?
Or soft copy?
It is a common practice that old passports are returned to their owners so that they can continue
issuing them to immigration official’s embassies as evidence of having got visas or traveled. This will
not change.
6 UGANDA MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
ANTI-PLAGIARISM POLICY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on the EAC e-passport

9. Will the new passport allow us to stay longer in the EAC Partner State?
The current travel documents allow you to stay in the partner states for a period of six months. The
new passport will not be any different.

10. What if I am not back in the country by 2017, can the Uganda Embassy in the
country where I am based give me this new passport?
As earlier noted, you will be able to use your old passport until 31st December 2018. The government
of Uganda has three passport centers abroad which will also be able to issue the new international
EAC e- passport.

11. Since this is an e-passport can one acquire it from any of the EAC countries or
you have to go and process it from your country of citizenship?
For now you will be issued the passport in your country of citizenship. Ugandan missions in Pretoria,
London and Washington also do issue passports.

12. Will the Citizens of the Republic of South Sudan be allowed to apply for this
passport?
Yes, the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan will be eligible to acquire the EAC e-passport. Any
country that joins the EAC will enjoy the privileges and have the responsibilities of the other Partner
States

13. And what’s the difference between ordinary and service passport?
The ordinary passport is issued to all citizens. The diplomatic passport is given to Ugandan diplomats
or those who carry out diplomatic duties and specific members of the family like spouses. The official
passport is given to high ranking government officials. But family members are not entitled to the
official passport.

14. I have applied for the citizenship of Uganda will I get the East African passport?
Once you become a citizen of Uganda you automatically qualify for the acquisition of the EAC
e-passport.

15. What’s the use of holding all these documents: AU passport, National ID,
then EAC one? Isn’t this confusing people?
Each of those documents serves a different purpose. The ID cannot for instance take you outside
East Africa. The national ID is for you to be identified and to access services (like scholarships, jobs,
health care, participating in elections as a voter or candidate etc.) within Uganda. It is also used to
travel within the EAC even if you don’t have a passport. The new generation EAC Passport will take
you anywhere in the world. When the guidelines for the African passport come out, then it will be
used for purposes of promoting African integration, investment and business across borders. And it
can be used alongside the EAC e-passport.
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
on the EAC e-passport
EAC ANTHEM
IN KISWAHILI
Verse 1
Ee Mungu twaomba ulinde Jumuiya
Afrika Mashariki Tuwereshe kuishi kwa
amani Tutimize na malengo yetu.
Chorus
Jumuiya Yetu sote tuilende Tuwajibike
tuimarike Umoja wetu ni nguzo yetu
Idumu Jumuiya yetu.
Verse 2
Uzalendo pia mshikamano Viwe msingi
wa Umoja wetu Natulinde Uhuru na
Amani Mila zetu na desturi zetu.
Verse 3
Viwandani na hata mashambani Tufanye
kazi sote kwa makini Tujitoe kwa
hali na mali Tuijenge Jumuiya bora.
7
EAC ANTHEM
IN ENGLISH
Verse 1
Oh God we ask you to protect Our East
African Community Enable us to stay/
live in Peace And accomplish our tasks.
Chorus
Let us all protect our Community We should
work hard, to strengthen it. Our unity is our
pillar So sustain/uphold our Community.
Verse 2
Patriotism as well as togetherness
Should be the foundation for our unity
Let us protect Independence and peace
Our Customs and behaviours.
Verse 3
Industries/factories and even agriculture
Let us all work carefully/diligently. Let us
devote ourselves for our wealth So as to
build a better Community.
 Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA)
EAC - Embrace 2nd & 9th Floor, Postel Building
Your Opportunity.
Plot, 67/75 Yusuf Lule Road, Kampala
P.O. Box 7343, Kampala,Uganda
THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Telephone: +256 0414 340100
Fax: +256 0414 348171
Website: www.meaca.go.ug. Email: meaca@meaca.go.ug

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