Monday, October 4, 2004
Uganda Not Open to All Foreigners, Say MPs
By JULIUS BARIGABA
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
UGANDA's PARLIAMENT is debating a Cabinet White Paper that calls for selective awarding of dual citizenship, with MPs suggesting that people from countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, Nigeria and India be denied the privilege.
Legislators who spoke to The EastAfrican last week said they were opposed to the granting of dual citizenship to Rwandans and Burundians because that they had been used in previous elections to vote for particular candidates.
"The idea is good, but if we open citizenship to everyone, you are soon going to find that Uganda is too small for us. We should do it selectively," said Hillary Onek.
Dual citizenship is one of the issues contained in the paper, which has raised controversy ever since it was tabled before parliament two weeks ago. When it eventually goes before the plenary session, it is expected to generate heated debate as several politicians are already viewing the inclusion of dual citizenship with suspicion.
"It is not by default that this issue was included, it is there to serve a manipulative purpose, and it is in bad faith," said Ken Lukyamuzi. He added that dual citizenship was a ploy to steal elections by bringing in "pseudo citizens" to vote.
"These people will be registered for the sole purpose of coming to vote and then go. They will only be voting citizens, who come with a candidate in mind, without bothering to know whether he is good for the country," said Mr Lukyamuzi.
He said such people have been a problem in the past, but with the acquisition of dual citizenship, the problem will become worse. In all past elections, there have been complaints that non-Ugandans were used to vote for particular candidates.
At a campaign rallies during the 2001 presidential elections, Mr Lukyamuzi urged his supporters to pick up machettes and attack those they suspected to be non-Ugandans trying to vote.
He was questioned by police for allegedly inciting the public.
Most legislators interviewed are opposed to the granting of citizenship to Rwandans, Burundians and Nigerians.
Dual citizenship became a contentious issue in 2001, as Ugandans living and working abroad were being denied certain services unless they took up citizenship of their host countries.
That meant giving up Ugandan citizenship because the current 1995 constitution does not allow dual citizenship.
Some Ugandans working in countries such as the US and the UK have already taken up citizenship of those countries primarily for economic reasons, and are remitting funds back home. On average, the country earns $550 million from Ugandans nationals working outside the country.
Legislators last week said that, given the amount of foreign exchange brought in by such workers – well ahead of the manufacturing, tourism and agricultural sectors – it was important that Uganda adapt dual citizenship.
But the MPs want the government to grant dual citizenship to only those foreigners "who come here to do serious business, not to operate kiosks."
"Since our borders are porous, people can come in from neighbouring countries, which gets worse doing elections," said Ssebuliba Mutumba.
Last week, a senior army officer, Col Kasirye Ggwanga, was quoted as saying he was opposed to the granting of dual citizenship to Burundians. "They should not be granted citizenship, Uganda is not for everyone," he said.
But Kampala legislator Margaret Zziwa said that, given today's globalised labour market, she has no problem with dual citizenship. However, she said it should be granted to only those foreigners from countries such as the US, UK and Germany that have strong economic and bilateral relations with Uganda.
Although most MPs agree over the principle of dual citizenship, they say it should be restricted to only Ugandan nationals who may have acquired citizenship of other countries as a result of living and working there.
Others think that it is improper to allow dual citizenship because senior government officials could abuse it.
Baale County MP Sulaiman Madada said dual citizenship excludes certain categories of government officials such as permanent secretaries, ministers, legislators, presidents and senior army officers.
He said people in such positions may commit crimes with impunity and flee to other countries, but this can be checked by denying them dual citizenship.
The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee will handle the issue after parliament returns from recess, committee chairman Jacob Oulanyah said. The committee is currently debating the Referendum and Other Political Organisations Bill.
President Yoweri Museveni was recently granted honorary citizenship of the state of Washington during his visit to the US in August 2004.
Others who spoke strongly against the idea of granting dual citizenship without restriction were Theopista Sentongo, Rogers Matte, Michael Mabikke, Martin Wandera, Reagan Okumu, John Kawanga and Beatrice Kiraso.
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