The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) said it has destroyed 158,000 uncollected passports worth UGX 39.5 billion, citing space constraints and failure by owners to claim them.
Speaking at the weekly security briefing at Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday, March 19, 2025, Immigration Spokesperson Simon Mundeyi expressed regret over the growing number of abandoned passports.
“We announced and have been begging Ugandans to come for their passports, but they have failed to turn up,” Mundeyi said.
He revealed that an additional 12,580 passports are in the pipeline for destruction, urging those who applied to collect them before it is too late.
“These are still available, and we call upon Ugandans who received collection messages to pick them. We don’t have space to keep them,” he stated.
Mundeyi further disclosed that about 60,000 passports remain unclaimed by individuals who applied through labor export companies.
“Even if you couldn’t travel abroad, come and collect your passport—it is your property, not the company’s. Visit the Immigration Headquarters, and it will be given to you,” he emphasized.
Addressing a technical issue that occurred in February, Mundeyi noted that the system malfunction prevented the sending of passport collection notifications.
“If you applied in January or February and never got a message, come and check with us—your passport is available,” he clarified.
The destroyed passports were stored in Kyambogo, where space limitations have forced the government to take action. The DCIC continues to urge the public to collect their travel documents promptly to avoid further losses.
