Uganda, Dutch govts partner to combat document fraud

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The governments of Uganda and the Netherlands have entered a partnership aimed at combating document fraud and streamlining border control.

As part of this initiative, a training programme is underway for Uganda's internal affairs officers. The course aims to equip over 80 officers with the skills and knowledge necessary to reduce and combat crimes committed through the use of fraudulent documents.

During the opening ceremony at Hotel Africana in Kampala today, June 2, 2025, Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita-Gowa, the chief of Citizenship and Immigration Control, urged the officers to take the course seriously and to apply the knowledge they gain in their efforts to fight crimes involving fraudulent documents.

He emphasised the dynamic nature of global travel, stating, “People are travelling to different places, and they often rely on documents to facilitate that travel. Unfortunately, we frequently encounter instances where these documents are fraudulent. The purpose of this training is to help us address this issue effectively. We are hopeful that our partnership with the Netherlands will enable us to appreciate and utilise the new technologies available for detecting document fraud and similar areas related to fraud.”

He noted that there are numerous cases of fraudulent documentation, stating, “These are not solely Ugandan documents; we are also dealing with international documents from countries like the Netherlands and the US.”

He said the partnership will focus on training Ugandan immigration personnel to distinguish between fraudulent and genuine documents, reiterating the importance of constant training for officers to effectively identify fraudulent documents.

“Daily, we are innovating, and one of the advancements we are adopting comes from the Netherlands. We are working hard to ensure that our documents can withstand attempts at forgery,” he said, adding that fraudsters often seek to reach destinations from which they have been previously prevented, leading them to attempt to enter those countries using forged documents.

Rob Borhaver, the director of international affairs for the Netherlands, stated that this initiative is one way to strengthen relations between Uganda and the Netherlands.

Frederieke Quispel, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, emphasised that the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, with more people traveling daily to migrate and visit different regions, including Europe and Africa.

“It is crucial to ensure that travel occurs legally. Knowing who enters and exits your country is essential. This is why Uganda and the Netherlands are collaborating closely to achieve this in a professional manner that benefits both parties,” she concluded.