Over 6000 Applicants Affected As Passport Offices Announce Closure To Upgrade System
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced that all their passport offices, both within the country and abroad will close for two days to allow for a system upgrade.
This has been revealed by the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Control, Brig John Namanya on Wednesday saying the shutdown and system upgrade will happen starting tomorrow Thursday, January, 19 up to Friday, January 20.
”All our service centres and offices in Kampala at the Ministry Headquarters, Kyambogo, Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu as well as our diaspora offices in Washington, London, Ottawa, Copenhagen, Pretoria and Abu Dhabi will be shut down,” Brig Namanya said while addressing journalists on Wednesday.
“Upon completion of the upgrade and maintenance works, applicants who had already scheduled appointments on Thursday, January,19 and Friday, January, 20 will be served alongside those already scheduled on January 23 and 24 respectively,” he added
According to Brig Namanya, the shutdown will enable them to rectify several glitches that the system has faced in the past.
“When you go technology, you have to continue upgrading or else you might be left obsolete. Every day there is a change in technology and system upgrades will be a feature you have to live with. The only thing is trying to see its effects don’t disrupt the services you offer.”
He however noted that those with emergencies will be able to visit the ministry’s offices physically for assistance.
“We have an open door policy at the ministry because we are people-centric. For any emergencies, you will approach our offices, even if it is at night.”
This development is expected to affect thousands of Ugandans who had earlier planned to pick their passports as well as others who have scheduled interviews for passports both in Uganda and at foreign missions where passports are issued.
“We are looking at about 6000 people to be affected in the two days but we pledge to be back to normal. We shall have just a short turbulence and we will be back to normal,” Brig Namanya said.
