The Ugandan Directorate of Immigration is currently contending with a pressing storage challenge caused by a substantial backlog of uncollected passports. Across five centers in Kampala, Jinja, Gulu, Mbarara, and Mbale, over 50,000 passports, some dating back to 2018, remain untouched.

Simon Mudenyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has voiced serious concerns regarding this issue. The sheer volume of unclaimed passports has led to a storage crunch, severely impeding the Directorate’s ability to process new applications promptly.

One of the major hurdles exacerbating the situation is communication breakdown. Many passport holders are unreachable due to inactive phone numbers or failed delivery attempts of messages. This communication lapse has significantly hindered efforts to inform individuals about their unclaimed passports. Moreover, the recent addition of 2,000 unclaimed passports from 2024 has only added to the backlog. In response, the public is strongly urged to collect their passports without delay. Mudenyi emphasizes that the process for claiming passports is straightforward and encourages holders to step forward promptly.

To address this backlog and streamline future processing efforts, the Directorate of Immigration is actively exploring ways to enhance communication channels. However, immediate action is imperative to alleviate the strain on resources and prevent further escalation of the situation.