Parliament has amended the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Bill, 2004 to establish the office of the Director of Immigration replacing the Commissioner.
The Minister for Internal Affairs Ruhakana Rugunda says this amendment is aimed at transforming the Department of Immigrations at the Ministry of Internal Affairs into a Directorate.
Rugunda says that the Directorate will be more responsive to the increased challenges like the increased movement of people across the borders, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking.
The Directorate has also been expanded to introduce three Commissioners heading a department each under the Director to enable government facilitate it directly.
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The committee however deleted a clause that seeks to place the supervision of the Directorate under the Minister. The Committee Chairperson Amon Muzoora says this would deter the Minister from interfering in the operations of the Directorate.
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There has been a long standing concern by the public and Parliament about the seemingly un-monitored and uncoordinated entry and exit of foreigners into Uganda.
The bill has been referred to the Defense and Internal Affairs committee for scrutiny.
