Get news alerts Login Central AfricaEast AfricaHorn of AfricaIndian OceanNorth AfricaSouthern AfricaWest AfricaAfrica / World Agriculture - NutritionCulture - ArtsEconomy - DevelopmentEnvironment - NatureGay - LesbianGender - WomenHealthHuman rightsLabourMediaPoliticsScience - EducationSocietyTechnologyTravel - Leisure From Behind By Country By Topic Chronological Press Releases Partner Media Contact Us
   
 


See also:
» 21.02.2011 - Huge Uganda election funding questioned
» 22.09.2010 - US fundamentalists "fight proxy war" in Uganda, Rwanda
» 07.06.2010 - Sudan protests Uganda non-invitation of al-Bashir
» 25.03.2010 - SA’s business eyeing oil in Uganda
» 02.03.2010 - Reject anti-gay bill - activists
» 01.03.2010 - Experts urge Uganda to drop anti-homosexuality bill
» 02.02.2010 - Scores slaughtered by rebels in DRC
» 26.01.2010 - US mission to address E/Africa human rights before AU Summit








Uganda
Politics | Human rights | Society

Legislators pass dual citizenship bill

afrol News, 18 May - Ugandan legislators have endorsed a bill paving the way for dual citizenship in the East Africa state, local media has reported. The new legislation, the 2008 Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Amendment Bill which only awaits the president's signature will however prohibit holders of dual citizenship from serving in key political and security offices.

According to a report presented by the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee endorsed by MPs, a number of Ugandans have lost their citizenship due to the country’s restrictive laws on dual citizenship, saying the bill will create an opportunity for those Ugandans to regain their citizenship.

"The legislation will also give citizenship to none-Ugandan nationals who are making enormous contribution to our nation, and would wish to attain Ugandan citizenship," the report stated.

The Bill which according to local news reports was a response to the public outcry for dual citizenship, will give both foreign and local nationals rights to Ugandan citizenship without having to renounce the other.

However, some MPs have expressed concern about the allegiance of persons holding dual citizenship when both countries are at conflict. They also criticised it for being too strict by denying dual citizenship holders from holding key positions in government.

The MPs have also expressed concern that Uganda would see an influx of citizenship-seeking foreigners, especially its neighbours who are troubled by incessant conflict and rebellion.

But the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, Mathias Kasamba, said despite some few shortcomings, parliament has done the necessary step of passing the law to enable non Diaspora Ugandans and other people who have made enormous contribution to the country attain Ugandan citizenship.

Uganda which was notorious for its human rights abuses, saw many of its citizen seeking refugee status in its neighbours and abroad, first during the military dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971-79 and then after the return to power of Milton Obote, who had been ousted by Amin in the 1970s and 1980s.


- Create an e-mail alert for Uganda news
- Create an e-mail alert for Politics news
- Create an e-mail alert for Human rights news
- Create an e-mail alert for Society news

    E-mail this to a friend     Printable version

Related pages and feature
Current afrol News Top Stories
Uganda
Politics
Human rights
Society
Affairs
Diaspora
Law
People
Policy
Social Services
Socio-economic
There are currently no news articles published related to this section.


top of page about afrol News | news | countries | archive | services | feed back | español 

© afrol News. Reproducing or buying afrol News' articles.

   You can contact us at mail@afrol.com