The Ministry of Internal Affairs has raised alarm over a growing backlog of unclaimed passports, revealing that more than 42,000 electronic passports are currently gathering dust at processing centres across the country. Some passports date back as far as 2018.
Simon Mundeyi, the ministry’s spokesperson, told journalists at the Police headquarters in Naguru on July 14, 2025 that the documents remain uncollected despite applicants having completed payment and receiving approvals.
“These are people who applied, paid, and got approval—but never came to pick them up,” Mundeyi said. “We do not have space for such volumes anymore.”
The uncollected passports are reportedly stacked at the main processing hub in Kyambogo, Kampala, and at regional centres in Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, Arua, Kotido, Hoima, Mbale, and Lira.
Mundeyi urged all applicants to immediately retrieve their passports, bringing along their National ID and application receipt for verification.
While addressing the passport backlog, Mundeyi also drew attention to a different and more sensitive issue gripping the country, a surge in demand for DNA testing, particularly paternity tests.
In just three days, officials at the ministry’s forensic laboratory in Wandegeya recorded 94 new DNA test requests, the majority from men questioning the paternity of their children.
“About 95% of the cases were filed by men, 2% by women, and 3% by adult children trying to confirm their biological parents,” Mundeyi revealed.
He expressed concern over the emotional consequences of these tests, noting that most results deliver devastating news.
“In our observations, 98% of the DNA results come out negative,” he said. “You can imagine a man who has raised a child for 15 years, only to be told he’s not the father. It is traumatising, especially for children. If you can avoid it, don’t do it. Live and die in peace.”
Mundeyi warned Ugandans to think carefully before initiating such tests: “Do not engage in DNA testing unless you have a very strong heart.”
He also called on media outlets to respect the privacy of individuals visiting the DNA testing facility.
“People go there secretly and find cameras waiting. Please give people their privacy. Not every prominent person visiting Wandegeya is guilty of something,” he urged.
DNA tests at the Wandegeya laboratory cost around $100 per sample, typically involving the alleged father, mother, and child.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is urging Ugandans to take personal responsibility, whether by collecting long-forgotten documents or carefully weighing the emotional cost of uncovering hidden truths.
