Resource 3: Excerpt from the constitution of Uganda, showing those who qualify to be a Ugandan citizen

Background information / subject knowledge for teacher

Citizens of Uganda

9. Every person who, on the commencement of this Constitution is a citizen of Uganda shall continue to be such a citizen.

Citizenship by birth

10. The following persons shall be citizens of Uganda by birth:

(a) every person born in Uganda one of whose parents or grandparents is or was a member of any of the indigenous communities existing and residing within the borders of Uganda as at the first day of February 1926 and set out in the Third Schedule to this Constitution; and

(b) every person born in or outside Uganda one of whose parents or grandparents was at the time of birth of that person a citizen of Uganda by birth.

Foundlings and adopted children

11. (1) A child of not more than five years of age found in Uganda, whose parents are not known, shall be presumed to be a citizen of Uganda by birth.

(2) A child under the age of 18 years neither of whose parents is a citizen of Uganda, who is adopted by a citizen of Uganda shall, on application, be registered as a citizen of Uganda.

Citizenship by registration

12. (1) Every person born in Uganda:

(a) at the time of whose birth:

(i) neither of his or her parents and none of his or her grandparents had diplomatic status in Uganda; and

(ii) neither of his or her parents and none of his or her grandparents was a refugee in Uganda; and

(b) who has lived continuously in Uganda since the ninth day of October 1962 shall, on application, be entitled to be registered as a citizen of Uganda.

(2) The following persons shall, upon application be registered as citizens of Uganda:

(a) every person married to a Uganda citizen upon proof of a legal and subsisting marriage of three years or such other period prescribed by Parliament;

(b) every person who has legally and voluntarily migrated to and has been living in Uganda for at least ten years or such other period prescribed by Parliament;

(c) every person who, on the commencement of this Constitution, has lived in Uganda for at least 20 years.

(3) Paragraph (a) of clause (2) of this article applies also to a person who was married to a citizen of Uganda who, but for his or her death, would have continued to be a citizen of Uganda under this Constitution.

(4) Where a person has been registered as a citizen of Uganda under paragraph (a) of clause (2) of this article and the marriage by virtue of which that person was registered is:

(a) annulled or otherwise declared void by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction; or

(b) dissolved,

that person shall, unless he or she renounces that citizenship, continue to be a citizen of Uganda.

Citizenship by naturalisation

13. Parliament shall by law provide for the acquisition and loss of citizenship by naturalisation.

Resource 2: Rights of the child in Uganda

Section 2 : Ways to investigate gender issues