Article 9-19 Uganda Constitution 1995
Table of Contents
Article 9-19 of the Uganda Constitution 1995 is under Chapter 3 of the Constitution. Chapter 3 is titled ‘CITIZENSHIP.’
Article 9 Uganda Constitution 1995
Citizens of Uganda
Every person who, on the commencement of this Constitution, is a citizen of Uganda shall continue to be such a citizen.
Article 10 Uganda Constitution 1995
Citizenship by birth
The following persons shall be citizens of Uganda by birth—
(a) every person born in Uganda one of whose parents or grandparents is or was a member of any of the indigenous communities existing and residing within the borders of Uganda as at the first day of February, 1926, and set out in the Third Schedule to this Constitution; and
(b) every person born in or outside Uganda one of whose parents or grandparents was at the time of birth of that person a citizen of Uganda by birth.
Article 11 Uganda Constitution 1995
Foundlings and adopted children
(1) A child of not more than five years of age found in Uganda, whose parents are not known, shall be presumed to be a citizen of Uganda by
birth.
(2) A child under the age of eighteen years neither of whose parents is a citizen of Uganda, who is adopted by a citizen of Uganda shall, on application, be registered as a citizen of Uganda.
Article 12 Uganda Constitution 1995
Citizenship by registration
(1) Every person born in Uganda—
(a) at the time of whose birth—
(i) neither of his or her parents and none of his or her grandparents had diplomatic status in Uganda; and
(ii) neither of his or her parents and none of his or her grandparents was a refugee in Uganda; and
(b) who has lived continuously in Uganda since the ninth day of October, 1962, shall, on application, be entitled to be registered as a citizen of Uganda.
(2) The following persons shall, upon application, be registered as citizens of Uganda—
(a) every person married to a Uganda citizen upon proof of a legal and subsisting marriage of three years or such other period prescribed by Parliament;
(b) every person who has legally and voluntarily migrated to and has been living in Uganda for at least ten years or such other period prescribed by Parliament;
(c) every person who, on the commencement of this Constitution, has lived in Uganda for at least twenty years.
(3) Clause (2)(a) of this article applies also to a person who was married to a citizen of Uganda who, but for his or her death, would have continued to be a citizen of Uganda under this Constitution.
(4) Where a person has been registered as a citizen of Uganda under clause (2)(a) of this article and the marriage by virtue of which that person was registered is—
(a) annulled or otherwise declared void by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction; or
(b) dissolved, that person shall, unless he or she renounces that citizenship, continue to be a citizen of Uganda.
Article 13 Uganda Constitution 1995
Citizenship by naturalisation
Parliament shall by law provide for the acquisition and loss of citizenship by naturalisation.
Article 14 Uganda Constitution 1995
Loss of citizenship by registration
A person may be deprived of his or her citizenship if acquired by registration, on any of the following grounds—
(a) [Repealed]
(b) voluntary service in the armed forces or security forces of a country hostile to or at war with Uganda;
(c) acquisition of Uganda citizenship by fraud, deceit, bribery, or having made intentional and deliberate false statements in his or her application for citizenship; and
(d) espionage against Uganda.
Article 15 Uganda Constitution 1995
Prohibition of dual citizenship
(1) A citizen of Uganda of eighteen years and above, who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of a country other than Uganda may, retain the citizenship of Uganda subject to this Constitution and any law enacted by Parliament.
(2) A person who is not a citizen of Uganda may, on acquiring the citizenship of Uganda, subject to this Constitution and any law enacted by Parliament, retain the citizenship of another country.
(3) [Repealed]
(4) [Repealed]
(5) Where the law of a country, other than Uganda, requires a person who marries a citizen of that country to renounce the citizenship of his or her own country by virtue of that marriage, a citizen of Uganda who is deprived of his or her citizenship by virtue of that marriage shall, on the dissolution of that marriage, if he or she thereby loses his or her citizenship acquired by that marriage, become a citizen of Uganda.
(6)Parliament shall by law prescribe the circumstances under which—
(a) a citizen of Uganda who acquires the citizenship of another country may retain the citizenship of Uganda;
(b) a citizen of Uganda whose citizenship of origin is of another country and who holds the citizenship of another country may cease to be a citizen of Uganda;
(c) a person who is not a citizen of Uganda may, on acquiring Uganda citizenship retain the citizenship of another country;
(7) Parliament shall, by law, prescribe the offices of State which a person who holds the citizenship of another country in addition to the citizenship of Uganda is not qualified to hold
Article 16 Uganda Constitution 1995
National Citizenship and Immigration Board
(1) There shall be a National Citizenship and Immigration Board.
(2) The Board shall consist of a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and such other members as Parliament shall by law prescribe.
(3) The members of the Board shall—
(a) be persons of high moral character and proven integrity and appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament;
(b) hold office for such period and on such terms and conditions as Parliament shall by law prescribe.
(4) The functions of the Board shall be prescribed by Parliament by law
Article 17 Uganda Constitution 1995
Duties of a citizen
(1) It is the duty of every citizen of Uganda—
(a) to respect the national anthem, flag, coat of arms and currency;
(b) to respect the rights and freedoms of others;
(c) to protect children and vulnerable persons against any form of abuse, harassment or ill-treatment;
(d) to protect and preserve public property;
(e) to defend Uganda and to render national service when necessary;
(f) to cooperate with lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order;
(g) to pay taxes;
(h) to register for electoral and other lawful purposes;
(i) to combat corruption and misuse or wastage of public property; and
(j) to create and protect a clean and healthy environment.
(k) to perform such other national duties and obligations as Parliament
may by law prescribe.
(2) It is the duty of all able-bodied citizens to undergo military training for the defence of this Constitution and the protection of the territorial integrity of Uganda whenever called upon to do so; and the State shall ensure that facilities are available for such training.
(3) Parliament may, in the case of any duty or obligation under clause (1), prescribe a penalty for contravention of that duty or obligation.
Article 18 Uganda Constitution 1995
Registration of births, marriages and deaths
The State shall register every birth, marriage and death occurring in Uganda.
Article 19 Uganda Constitution 1995
Citizenship of a parent dying before the birth of a person
(1) A reference in this Chapter to the citizenship of the parent of a person at the time of the birth of that person shall, in relation to a person born after the death of the parent, be construed as a reference to the citizenship of the parent at the time of the parent’s death.
(2) For the purposes of clause (1) of this article, where the death occurred before the coming into force of this Constitution, the citizenship that the parent would have had if he or she had died on the coming into force of this Constitution shall be taken to be his or her citizenship at the time of his or her death.
