Report on Citizenship Law: Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).57 As documented in the ruling, instances of discrimination happen when individuals attempt to apply for or renew passports and national identity cards. This allegation by virtue, suggests that the MIA is violating their constitutional rights to citizenship in addition to access to passports and national ID cards.58 There were three main issues identified by the Tribunal requiring a legal judgment on the basis of whether discrimination did indeed take place. These include the following: 1) “whether the actions of the officials of MIA involved in the processing of the Passports and National Identity Cards amounted to discrimination of multi-racial individuals ordinarily known as half castes”, 2) “whether the actions of the said officials of the MIA amounted to violation of the Complainant’s and other members of the Multi-racial community’s right to citizenship”, and 3) “whether multi-racial communities may be accorded Affirmative Action in the political, social, and economic opportunities available to other Citizens of Uganda”.59 The ruling confirmed that the accuracy of the evidence provided by the witnesses claiming discrimination by the MIA, noting “alarming discrimination against multi-racial individuals”.60 The ruling called upon officials of the MIA to provide an equal opportunity for all Ugandans to apply for passports, and for MIA official to refrain from for withholding passports due to the colour of one’s skin. Additionally, the case brought into question the right to access citizenship of Mr. Feher Ahmed Hamed, which ruled that he met all the legal requirements in accordance with Article 12(1) and 12(2) of the 1995 Constitution, in addition to Section 14 of the UCICA, and called the MIA to grant him citizenship by registration.61 Furthermore, the ruling outlines the following legal framework, which the MIA should uphold in order to avoid the discrimination of multi-racial communities in Uganda: Articles 12, 20, 21(1), (2) and (3), 32 and 36 of the 1995 Constitution. It also called upon the MIA to “diligently perform the functions of the Directorate of Immigration and Citizenship as contained in Section 7 of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, Cap 66 as amended” and practice refraining from any personal bias and discriminatory practices.62 4.2 Introduction of New National ID Card The Citizenship and Immigration Control Act 1999 provided for the issue of ID cards63—but the government only took action to require registration for a national ID card more than ten years later. A mass registration process for a new national identity card was carried out during 2014/15 under the existing legislation. In January 2016, new legislation entered into force, the Registration of Persons Act 2015, which established a new agency, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to be responsible for its implementation. In February of 2019, NIRA launched a further three-month massive registration for all Ugandan citizens to ensure that everyone is included in the national register and provided a 57 The Equal Opportunities Commission, EOC Ref No. EOC/CR/010/2016, Yasin Omar [Complainant] Versus Attorney General [Respondent], 15 February 2016. http://www.eoc.go.ug/sites/equalopportunities/files/publications/yasin_omar_vs_attorney_general_ruling.pdf (accessed 05 February 2019). 58 Ibid. 59 Ibid. 60 Ibid. 61 Ibid. 62 Ibid. 63 Citizenship and Immigration Control Act 1999, Part IV, provided for “Registration of citizens and issue of national identification numbers and national identity cards.” RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/8 - © 2020 Author 15