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Uganda has opened a new passport office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aiming to streamline passport renewal and replacement services for Ugandans residing in the region.
Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, confirmed the opening in a press statement on Monday, detailing that the new office will provide critical services to Ugandans who no longer need to travel to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for passport-related matters.
"This office, located in Riyadh, will be handling passport renewals and replacements for Ugandans living in Saudi Arabia," Mundeyi said.
He further explained that the decision to open the office in Riyadh stemmed from the large number of Ugandans residing in Saudi Arabia compared to other countries in the region.
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"Initially, we had planned to open an office in Turkey, but upon reviewing the number of Ugandans in Saudi Arabia, we realised there is a much higher demand for this service," he added.
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Convenience for Ugandans in the Middle East
The new office will alleviate the inconvenience many Ugandans faced when they had to travel to other Middle Eastern cities for passport services.
The embassy in Riyadh is expected to start offering the services in July, and Ugandans can now renew or replace their expired or lost passports without the need for long-distance travel.
Biometric Data Collection to Improve Access
In addition to the new office, the Ministry has introduced biometric enrolment kits to collect biometric data from Ugandans unable to visit the passport office, such as those travelling abroad for medical treatment.
Officers will be visiting various locations to take biometric data and ease access to these essential services, further improving the experience for Ugandans abroad.