Migrant workers seeking employment in jobs not related to security, will nolonger be required to present a Certificate of Good Conduct from Interpol as a precondition for travel, beggining 13th October, 2021 -authorities have confirmed.
The move follows a cabinet decision of September 27, 2021 in a meeting held at State House Entebbe in which President Yoweri Museveni directed that the only category of persons who would require an Interpol Certificate should be those venturing into security professions.
In the letter, the Minister of Internal Affairs Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire communicated this decision to the minister for Gender, Labour and Docial Development Betty Amongi, stopping issuance of Interpol certificates to migrant workers.
“In lieu, this is to notify you that beggining Wednesday 13th October 2021, all categories of migrant workers will NOT be required to present Interpol certificate as pre-condtion for travel except those going for security related jobs as guided by HE the President and cabinet” the 8th October letter reads in part.
In the letter copied to officials at Entebbe International Airport, Interpol and border points, Otafiire implores Betty Amongi to cause further instructions to specific relevant officers required to opetationalize the directive.
Commonly known as Interpol letter, the certificate of good conduct is issued by the Uganda Police Force which is mandated under section 2 and 3 of the identification of the offenders Act Cap 119 (1960) and Police Act Cap. 303 (2006) as amended, to take and keep criminal records of all persons who have committed crime.
It is stated that the objective is for countries and organizations all over the world to protect and guard their interest from criminal elements thereby putting additional measures to identify and apprehend criminals. Such measures include the taking of fingerprints which are used for national identification, issuance of passports, visas, employment, joining academic institutions etc.
In Uganda, the cost associated with issuance of this letter has been varrying with the fees increased from Uganda Shillings 64, 300 in 2019 to Uganda Shillings 79,450 inclusive of the bank charges.
All migrant workers seeking to travel abroad including young girls who flock Arab countries for employment have always been required to process and acquire Interpol certificates as a mandatory requirement.