The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched a high-level investigation into a criminal cartel operating in Kampala, accused of illegally selling over 22,000 Ugandan passports to foreign nationals involved in criminal activities abroad.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, revealed that the cartel is primarily based around Nkrumah and Dewinton roads in Kampala. The group allegedly purchases genuine passports from Ugandan citizens for up to UGX 10 million (approximately $2,700) and resells them to non-Ugandans, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they are used for illicit activities such as drug trafficking.
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“Our investigations have uncovered a disturbing trend where Ugandan passports are being sold to foreign criminals for as much as $5,000 (approximately UGX 18.5 million) per document,” Mundeyi stated. He emphasized that these passports are not used for travel but rather as identification documents to facilitate illegal operations.
Scale of the Scandal
Preliminary findings suggest that the cartel has acquired at least 220,000 passports from Ugandan citizens. Many of these individuals later report their passports as lost to obtain replacements, complicating efforts to track the illicit trade.
“We have identified over 600 Ugandans in the UAE who claimed their passports were lost. However, our investigations reveal that they sold their documents to the cartel and then reported them as missing to secure new ones,” Mundeyi explained.
Crackdown on the Cartel
Authorities have already arrested one suspect believed to be a key player in the scheme. The suspect is expected to provide critical information that could lead to the apprehension of other members of the network.
To curb the growing trend of passport sales, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has introduced stricter measures. Ugandans reporting lost passports and applying for replacements will now be required to process their applications exclusively at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kampala.
“We are making the process more stringent and costly to discourage Ugandans from engaging in this illegal trade. We want them to weigh the consequences and understand that selling their passports is not only unlawful but also detrimental to national security,” Mundeyi added.
Broader Implications
The scandal has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Uganda’s passport system and its potential exploitation by international criminal networks. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has vowed to intensify its efforts to dismantle the cartel and prevent further abuse of Ugandan travel documents.
As investigations continue, authorities are urging citizens to refrain from selling their passports and to report any suspicious activities related to document fraud
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