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Hon. Beatrice Lagada, Chairperson of the National Citizenship and Immigration Control Board, who represented the Minister for Internal Affairs cutting the Ribbon. By Dramadri Federick Arua City The Ministry of Internal Affairs has officially commissioned its f
Hon. Beatrice Lagada, Chairperson of the National Citizenship and Immigration Control Board, who represented the Minister for Internal Affairs cutting the Ribbon.
By Dramadri Federick
Arua City
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has officially commissioned its fifth Regional Immigration and Passport Office in Arua, a major step toward decentralizing immigration services and improving access for residents of the West Nile sub-region.
The new facility is expected to bring essential services closer to the people, eliminating the need for long and costly journeys to Kampala or Gulu for passport processing.
The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Beatrice Lagada, Chairperson of the National Citizenship and Immigration Control Board, who represented the Minister for Internal Affairs.
She described the opening of the Arua office as a critical milestone in government efforts to extend services to underserved regions and enhance efficiency in document processing.
During the event, Lagada also cautioned immigration staff and security personnel to remain vigilant and uphold strict procedures to prevent misuse of Ugandan passports. She highlighted Arua’s strategic location near international borders as a factor that requires heightened scrutiny.
“Staff must ensure that passports are issued only to deserving Ugandans. Given the region’s proximity to multiple borders, there is a need for extra vigilance to prevent abuse,” she stressed.
The chief guest Beatrice Lagada receives handover certificate from Representative of Uganda Security Printing Services.
According to Harrison Ssali, the Regional Immigration Officer in charge of the Arua office, construction of the facility was completed in 2022, followed by the installation of modern equipment. He revealed that in just four months of operation, the office has already processed 340 passports an indication of the high demand for services in the region.
“We assured the people of Arua that a passport center would be established, and now it is here. There is no longer any need to travel to Gulu or Kampala because all services are available locally,” Ssali said.
The Arua office is currently processing up to seven different types of travel documents, catering to a wide range of clients. These include ordinary passports for general international travel, service passports for government officials on duty, and diplomatic passports for senior government representatives. It also handles regional travel facilitation through the East African Tourist Visa, which allows seamless movement across Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Other documents processed at the facility include the Conventional Travel Document (CTD), issued to registered refugees in Uganda, and the Certificate of Identity, which serves as a temporary travel document for emergencies or for individuals unable to obtain passports from their countries of origin.
In addition, the office offers multiple-entry visas for frequent travelers and Temporary Movement Permits for those crossing into neighboring countries that share borders with Uganda.
The three major passports in Uganda.
Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasized the importance of understanding the purpose of each document before applying adding that the documents are now been processed electronically. He noted that fees vary depending on the type of document, warning that applying for the wrong one could lead to unnecessary financial loss.
“These documents are charged differently, and people should ensure they apply for the correct one to avoid inconveniences and added costs,” Mundeyi explained.
Local leaders welcomed the new development, describing it as a significant boost to service delivery and regional growth. David Kyasanku, the Arua City Town Clerk, called for complementary investments such as upgrading the Arua Airfield to international standards and improving cross-border infrastructure to maximize the benefits of the new office.
“If the airport is upgraded and infrastructure improved, it will ease operations for both immigration and the Civil Aviation Authority, with a multiplier effect on the regional economy,” Kyasanku noted.
Regional Immigration staff Aheebwa Barnabas takes guests through passport enrollment process during a guided tour.
Similarly, Alfred Okuonzi commended the government for bringing services closer to the people, highlighting the reduced risks and costs associated with long-distance travel.
“You have saved us from Accidents, you have saved us from this long stretch. It’s a big big service above self that you have rendered to us”. Okuonzi said.
With similar regional immigration centers already operational in Mbale, Mbarara, Gulu, and Lira, the Arua office strengthens the government’s decentralization agenda. The facility is expected to handle both ordinary and express passport applications, with fees set at 250,000 and 400,000 Ugandan shillings respectively, supported technically by Uganda Security Printing Services.
The opening of the Arua Regional Immigration Office marks a transformative moment for West Nile, promising improved access to essential services, enhanced regional connectivity, and new opportunities for economic growth.