Pakistani government has said that it has not issued any travel documents to the son of their late consul in Uganda, Bonney Katatumba. It further said, Rugiirwa Katatumba has no connections with Pakistan who is described as a “Ugandan citizen” Pakistani government has no business with.
The late Bonney Katatumba’s son Rugiirwa, has of recent been under fire for flashing around a passport meant for VVIPs in the country. The passport is given to people who have attained a high status in the country. Rugiirwa is however not among citizens considered for such privilege.
However when internal Affairs minister Gen Kahinda Otafiire was asked where Rugiirwa got his diplomatic passport from, he said that it was not the Ugandan government which issued the red passport for him and he insinuated that Pakistan, which was the country Rugiirwa’s father had connections with, could have issued it.
However, Pakistan through an official in its Kampala embassy, has distanced itself from Rugiirwa, saying the son of its former consul was an ordinary Ugandan citizen to whom they’ve no mandate to issue any travel documents.
Mr Hasnain Zafar told Daily Monitor newspaper, “We don’t have the authority to issue passports to Ugandan citizens. The passport in question belongs to the government of Uganda not Pakistan. We have no involvement in this matter. It is the Ugandan government’s responsibility to address it.”
Internal Affairs ministry spokesman Mr Simon Mundeyi said police should pursue Rugiirwa to explain how he obtained the said documents. However police spokesman Rusoke Kituma told the daily that when Rugiirwa presents the documents at an appropriate time, he will be tasked to explain how he obtained a fake document.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
