Uganda has introduced an electronic passport for its citizens, becoming the first country in East Africa to do so. Those who are yet to acquire the e-passport cannot travel out of Uganda after the country phased out the old document readers.
Uganda replaced the old passports line with EAC agreements
Uganda replaced the old travel documents in April this year.
Six years ago, the plan to phase out the old passports was reached after the EAC heads of state meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania.
This November, Kenya is expected to shift to e-passports after the early December 2021 deadline lapsed.
According to EAC Secretary-General Peter Mathuki, all EAC countries that have not implemented the e-passport must do so in line with the regional block’s directives.
Rwanda is expected to have the new generation passports by 27th June 2022, according to a communique by the country’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration.
Kenya has a new chip-embedded passport for its citizens, designed to weed out rampant forgery and impersonation of holders. The new features make it impossible for anyone to forge or duplicate a Kenyan passport.
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