In 2009, the UCICA was amended to include provisions that accept possessing dual nationality, particularly for Ugandan nationals who acquired a foreign citizenship by registration or by naturalisation, and people who wish to re-acquire Ugandan citizenship. 15. Further, the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2005, substitutes the previously noted clauses which prevent dual nationality. The Amendment stipulates retention of Ugandan citizenship in case a Ugandan acquires another citizenship14, in addition to permitting nonUgandan citizens to apply and receive Ugandan citizenship while retaining the citizenship of their origin countries15. However, dual nationality can only be granted if a number of conditions are met, which differ based on being a Ugandan citizen at birth who acquires another nationality or a foreign national who acquires Ugandan nationality by registration or naturalisation.16 Snapshot of Statelessness in Uganda 16. According to UNHCR, reliable information on the number of stateless persons in Uganda is unknown.17 It is estimated that tens of thousands of people are affected by statelessness. Statelessness in Uganda relates strongly to gaps in law and practice to guarantee the right to nationality for vulnerable groups, including minority groups and those affected by forced displacement. The lack of safeguards to statelessness in legislation, coupled with ethnic discrimination, is the main cause of statelessness in Uganda. Gaps in Uganda’s nationality laws create cracks through which individuals could become stateless. 17. The groups predominantly affected by statelessness include pre-independence migrants like the Maragoli, Asian returnees, and Isaaq Somalis. Also, long-term refugees, especially Rwandan and Congolese refugees who have lived in Uganda for over 50 years, and other ethnic minorities like the Benet, Bakingwe, Bagabo, who are not recognised by the constitution face (risks of) statelessness. As a result of their status, they are exposed to numerous human rights violations and abuse as discussed below. 18. Children face the risk of statelessness, both due to discriminatory laws, inter-generational statelessness, and practices related to birth registration. Uganda’s nationality laws prevents refugees from naturalising despite the protracted nature of their situation, whereby risks of childhood statelessness continue to exist due to the lack of safeguards against intergenerational statelessness. Also, Children Born of War (CBW) face risks of statelessness (see Issue III), and low birth registration in remote areas in the country create increased risks of statelessness as a birth certificate is often an important document to establish a person’s nationality. Article 15, section (a)(1), Constitution Amendment Act (2005). Article 15, section (a)(2) Constitution Amendment Act (2005). 16 Bronwen Manby, Statelessness and Citizenship in the East African Community, UNHCR, (September 2018), page 15, available at: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66807. Moreover, under Section 24 of UCICA, any person who acquired Ugandan citizenship through registration or naturalisation must provide evidence proving the renunciation of any other nationality within a ninety-day period or else “the registration or naturalisation of that person as a citizen of Uganda shall be cancelled; and he or she shall be taken never to have been so registered.” 17 UNHCR, Global focus, available at https://reporting.unhcr.org/node/29195 14 15 4