Rugiirwa Katatumba, son of the late businessman Bonney Katatumba, finds himself at the center of a growing scandal over the alleged improper acquisition of a diplomatic passport.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has summoned him twice, demanding he explain how he came to possess and flaunt a diplomatic passport on social media.
Despite the summons, Rugiirwa has defied the Ministry’s requests, triggering the next step—legal action.
Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, told the media on that Rugiirwa has failed to appear for questioning on two occasions.
As a result, the Ministry is considering notifying the Police to issue an arrest warrant.
This escalation comes after weeks of public outcry over how certain Ugandans, who do not qualify for diplomatic passports, have managed to acquire them.
The Ministry has made it clear that Rugiirwa’s actions are under serious scrutiny, as records show he was never entitled to a diplomatic passport.
The controversy began when Rugiirwa displayed what he claimed to be his diplomatic passport on social media.
This immediately raised questions, as diplomatic passports in Uganda are reserved for specific high-ranking officials.
Among those eligible are the President, First Lady, Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speaker, foreign ministers, ambassadors, and a few other government officials.
Rugiirwa does not fall into any of these categories, which prompted the Ministry of Internal Affairs to summon him for clarification.
Simon Mundeyi explained that official records show Rugiirwa applied for an ordinary passport on April 10, 2021.
This passport was issued in November of the same year and is valid until 2031. According to Mundeyi, there is no record of Rugiirwa ever being issued a diplomatic passport. The Ministry, therefore, summoned him to explain how he came into possession of the diplomatic passport that he has been flaunting, and if it indeed belongs to him, how he obtained it.
The spokesperson further noted that it is possible that the passport Rugiirwa displayed was either forged or belonged to someone else.
Mundeyi pointed out that the only person in the Katatumba family with a diplomatic passport is Gertrude Katatumba, Rugiirwa’s mother, who was granted one due to her status as the widow of the late Bonney Katatumba, a former diplomat.
There is a suspicion that Rugiirwa may have been displaying his mother’s passport.
Mundeyi emphasized the strict rules governing the issuance of diplomatic passports in Uganda, underscoring that they are not meant for the general public. Only a limited group of high-ranking officials and their spouses are eligible.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is working to ensure that these passports are not misused or unlawfully acquired by individuals who do not meet the necessary criteria.