The nomination of Dr Lawrence Muganga as State Minister for Internal Affairs has thrust an otherwise little-known immigration procedure into the public spotlight, with many Ugandans seeking to understand what it takes to renounce foreign citizenship. The debate intensified after it emerged that Dr Muganga, who has been nominated for a ministerial position, initiated the process of voluntarily renouncing his Canadian citizenship on June 1 through Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Documents seen by this newspaper indicate that Dr Muganga wrote to the Chief Citizenship and Immigration Control Office of IRCC seeking to renounce his Canadian citizenship under Section 9 of Canada’s Citizenship Act. His decision has sparked widespread public discussion, particularly regarding how long the process takes and whether one must physically appear before Canadian authorities for the renunciation to become effective. The Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Mr Simon Mundeyi, said the process is relatively straightforward and begins with an online application.
According to Mr Mundeyi, an applicant is required to access the appropriate renunciation form from the Canadian government’s website, complete it with personal details and reasons for seeking to renounce citizenship, and submit it to the relevant authorities. ‘The applicant fills in basic biodata, including names, employment details, passport information and the reasons for renouncing citizenship,’ Mr Mundeyi said in an interview yesterday.
After submission, the applicant is required to pay a processing fee of 450 Canadian dollars, equivalent to about Shs1.2 million.
‘Once the payment is made, the applicant waits for approval. After approval, they are required to surrender their Canadian passport to the Canadian Embassy or Consulate, and the renunciation process is then deemed complete,’ he explained. The timeline for approval varies depending on the circumstances surrounding the application. Mr Mundeyi said some applications can be approved within days, while others may take several months depending on the reasons for renunciation and the level of scrutiny required.
‘We have had cases where applicants are approved within three days, especially where the reasons do not raise security concerns,’ he said.
He added that applications linked to political participation in Uganda are generally less sensitive than those involving security-related appointments. ‘If the purpose is to contest for office in Uganda, that is political and not particularly sensitive. But if someone is renouncing citizenship in order to join security agencies or occupy highly sensitive positions, authorities may take longer to conduct due diligence,’ Mr Mundeyi said.
No personal appearance
The clarification comes amid reports suggesting that renouncing Canadian citizenship requires a mandatory personal appearance at a Canadian embassy and that applicants are given a six-month period to reconsider their decision. Mr Mundeyi dismissed such claims. ‘The procedure does not require someone to physically appear at the embassy or consulate to initiate the process. The application is submitted through the prescribed channels. The only physical requirement comes after approval when the person is surrendering the passport,’ he said.
However, immigration experts note that approval is not automatic. According to Mr Mundeyi, applications may be approved, deferred or rejected depending on the applicant’s circumstances. ‘An application may be rejected if authorities believe the person is trying to evade criminal prosecution or other legal obligations in Canada,’ he said. He added that Canadian authorities typically conduct background checks to establish whether an applicant has committed offences, owes government-backed loans or has other outstanding obligations.
‘The due diligence process seeks to establish whether there are criminal cases, unpaid obligations or any other issues that may affect the application,’ he said. Canadian law sets several conditions that must be met before citizenship can be renounced. An applicant must first prove that they are a Canadian citizen and also demonstrate that they either hold or will acquire citizenship of another country if the renunciation is approved. The law is designed to prevent individuals from becoming stateless.
Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and must understand the legal consequences of giving up Canadian citizenship. In addition, they must not be considered a threat to Canada’s security or be involved in a pattern of criminal activity. Another key requirement is that the applicant should not ordinarily reside in Canada at the time of application. The minister responsible for citizenship matters may, however, waive some of these requirements on compassionate grounds.
Individuals who renounce Canadian citizenship lose all rights and privileges associated with that status. Should they wish to return permanently, they would be required to apply for permanent residency. Those seeking to visit, study or work temporarily may also need to obtain the appropriate visas. The law further provides that a person cannot renounce citizenship if Canadian authorities have already initiated proceedings to revoke that citizenship under Sections 10 or 10.1 of the Citizenship Act.