The Ugandan Directorate of Immigration is currently grappling with a critical storage predicament stemming from a substantial accumulation of unclaimed passports. Across five strategic centers located in Kampala, Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara, and Mbale, over 50,000 passports, some dating back to 2018, remain uncollected.

Simon Mudenyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has expressed deep concern over the situation. The sheer volume of unclaimed passports has led to a storage crunch, severely hindering the Directorate’s ability to process new applications in a timely manner.

A major obstacle exacerbating the issue is communication difficulties. Many passport holders are unreachable due to inactive phone numbers or failed attempts at delivering messages. This communication breakdown has made it incredibly challenging for authorities to inform individuals about their uncollected passports. Furthermore, the recent addition of 2,000 unclaimed passports from 2024 has only compounded the problem. To address this backlog and streamline future processing efforts, the public is strongly urged to collect their passports without delay. Mudenyi emphasizes that the passport collection process is straightforward and encourages holders to step forward promptly.

Efforts are underway within the Directorate of Immigration to enhance communication channels and expedite the retrieval of unclaimed passports. However, immediate action is necessary to alleviate the strain on resources and prevent further escalation of the situation.