The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has reassigned two of its senior officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, setting the stage for fresh leadership at the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC).

Maj Gen Apollo Kasiita-Gowa, who has been heading the immigration directorate, and Brig Gen Johnson Abaho Namanya, the Commissioner for Citizenship and Passport Management, have both concluded their assignments at the ministry and are expected to take up new roles at Defence headquarters.

The officers were first posted to the directorate in 2021 during a period of institutional reforms.Their redeployment was communicated internally to staff, marking the end of a four-year stint that saw the immigration department undergo a series of operational adjustments.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Simon Mundeyi, confirmed the changes and said official communication would be issued to clarify the transition process.

The two generals were assigned to immigration at a time when the department faced mounting public dissatisfaction. Passport backlogs, claims of corrupt intermediaries, and concerns about border security had put the directorate under pressure.

Their leadership focused on reorganising passport processing systems, strengthening identity verification measures, and improving coordination with security agencies stationed at entry and exit points.

Although reforms led to noticeable improvements in workflow and oversight, demand for travel documents continued to strain the system, particularly during peak seasons.

Technical slowdowns and congestion occasionally affected service delivery.The reshuffle is understood to be part of routine military rotations, where senior UPDF officers serve in civilian institutions before returning to core military duties.Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, indicated via his social media platforms that further adjustments would be made within the immigration department.

By press time, new appointments to the directorate had not yet been formally announced, but officials said a handover process would be conducted in line with established government procedures.