By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
The minister for Internal affairs Maj Gen Saverino Kahinda Otafiire has asked officials at the Entebbe Airport and Interpol police to enforce cabinet decision on the stopping of Interpol certificate of good conduct to ordinary migrant workers.
The move follows a cabinet decision of September 27, 2021 in a meeting held at State House Entebbe in which President Yoweri Museveni directed that the only category of persons who would require an Interpol Certificate should be those venturing into security professions.
In the letter, the Minister Otafiire communicated this decision to the minister for Gender, Labour and Docial Development Betty Amongi, stopping issuance of Interpol certificates to migrant workers.
“In lieu, this is to notify you that beggining Wednesday 13th October 2021, all categories of migrant workers will NOT be required to present Interpol certificate as pre-condtion for travel except those going for security related jobs as guided by HE the President and cabinet” the 8th October letter reads in part.
He further asked the officials at Entebbe International Airport, Interpol and border points, and Gender minister Betty Amongi to cause further instructions to specific relevant officers required to operationalize the directive.
Speaking to Parrots UG, Gen. Otafiire said the decision to halt issuance of the letter was due to limited manpower at Interpol to investigate on security details of every Ugandan travelling abroad.
“Our intelligence system is unable to identify each Ugandan travelling abroad. Police does not know you and even the local council where you come from may not well know you. We have no adequate manpower. The president directed that certificate of good conduct be stopped for ordinary migrant workers,” Gen. Otafiire said.
He added that the letter will effective tomorrow Wednesday October 13th be issued to only security, professional and other technical migrant workers.
Interpol letter, also known as the certificate of good conduct is issued by the Uganda Police Force which is mandated under section 2 and 3 of the identification of the offenders Act Cap 119 (1960) and Police Act Cap. 303 (2006) as amended, to take and keep criminal records of all persons who have committed crime.
