January 2, 2001
The Uganda-North American Convention has called for dual nationality to be granted to desiring persons. The Constitution still provides that no Ugandan can have the nationality of another country; if they so wish to take up citizenship elsewhere, they would have to renounce their Ugandan nationality. This is self-defeating. There is nothing unique about being a citizen of Uganda.
In fact, in the global village that is increasingly in the ascendancy, citizenship of a particular state is becoming less relevant. This is why there are no passport requirements for European Union citizens travelling or working within the EU. Yet, there is benefit for both Uganda and the individual if Ugandans were allowed to take up the citizenship of one other country. This would mainly apply to Ugandans living abroad.
They would find it easier to make remittances to Uganda, which could substantially boost the $500m they contributed to the national economy last year.They would also have a greater sense of belonging (to Uganda) and yet retain the security they need to live abroad. This could conceivably compel them to invest more skills and capital in their country.
The opportunity cost of the narrow constitutional provision is high. Many Ugandans of Asian origin who were expelled in 1972, and are now resident in Canada, Britain, Australia and the United States, have turned their backs on Uganda, not wanting to sacrifice the citizenship of those respective countries. Yet they could have had it both ways, and everybody would be happy.
We could borrow a leaf from Ireland. There are millions of Irishmen who have become citizens in the US, Britain and Australia and yet they keep strong links with the old country. Their contribution, in patriotically driven investment, has made a substantial contribution to making the Republic of Ireland Europe's fastest-growing economy today.
