The Ugandan government has announced the upcoming launch of a new diaspora passport office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to better serve citizens living and working in the Middle East.
Speaking during a weekly briefing at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson Simon Mundeyi revealed that the office is scheduled to open in July 2025. The move is aimed at easing passport-related challenges faced by Ugandans abroad particularly those who currently have to travel long distances to embassies in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or return home to renew their documents.
“Many Ugandans in Saudi Arabia face difficulties accessing passport services due to travel costs and distances. This new centre will provide much-needed relief by bringing services closer to them,” said Mundeyi.
Once operational, the Riyadh facility will become the eighth Ugandan passport centre abroad, joining locations in London, Washington D.C., Ottawa, Copenhagen, Pretoria, Beijing, and Abu Dhabi. While Turkey had initially been considered, Saudi Arabia took priority due to its larger Ugandan workforce.
According to Mundeyi, infrastructure and staffing preparations are already complete, and the centre will be ready to serve the diaspora by mid-2025.
Back home, the Ministry is also introducing structural reforms to improve efficiency. Passport application and biometric enrolment will continue to take place at the Ministry’s headquarters, but collection has been moved to a new location in Kyambogo, Nakawa Division. The change is intended to reduce congestion and streamline service delivery.
Further enhancing accessibility, mobile passport enrolment kits are being rolled out to reach clients who are unable to travel such as those in hospitals or remote areas both in Uganda and abroad.
“This innovation will especially benefit Ugandans in vast countries like the United States, where travelling interstate can be expensive. Our officers will now come to the people,” Mundeyi added.
These efforts form part of a broader initiative to modernize and decentralize passport services, making them more accessible to Ugandans at home and overseas.