Ugandans Abroad Swiss-based Ugandans are now able to apply for National IDs, register for National Identification Numbers (NINs) even for children and update personal details without leaving the country, Daily Star has learned.
But the latest outreach by the Ugandan Embassy came with more than just paperwork.
From 26th to 29th November 2025, the Embassy of Uganda to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva staged what officials described as a “multi-sectoral Diaspora Engagement and Consular Service Delivery mission” in Geneva and Zürich. While the mission officially aimed to provide essential services, many attendees found themselves drawn into unexpected conversations about Uganda’s future.
The four-day event offered a one-stop centre for National Identity services, immigration support, and land consultations. But amid the queues for NIN registration and passport advice, whispers circulated about new initiatives in land digitisation and investment opportunities that could reshape how Ugandans abroad participate in national development.
In partnership with NIRA, NCIC, and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the Embassy not only delivered vital services but also quietly unveiled a fully functional NIRA and Immigration workstation at the Geneva Mission.
Visa issuance could now happen directly from the Mission, a move that took many by surprise and hinted at a future where distance no longer limits diaspora engagement.
The Directorate of Immigration held sessions on online payments, passport procedures, and citizenship acquisition, while the Ministry of Lands introduced the digitised UgNLIS system.
Attendees discovered that long-standing land queries could finally be addressed with unprecedented speed raising both excitement and curiosity about how this new transparency might change property ownership back home.
The outreach ended with a spirited Uganda at 63 Independence celebration in Zürich, blending cultural pride with subtle discussions about diaspora influence on national policy.
Ambassador Marcel Tibaleka lauded the diaspora’s contribution to Uganda’s development and teased plans to expand these engagements in 2026 hinting that next year’s mission might hold even more surprises for Swiss-based Ugandans.
