Integration News
Use of National ID Card to travel takes shape
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residents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya launched the use of National Identity card as a travel document recognized by the three countries in January 2014.
by EAC leaders in recent years.
Although the use of ID cards came to complement the commonly known use of passport, it is rapidly gaining fame amongst the citizens of the three countries. At the moment, it is only Rwandan and Kenyan citizens that use IDs while During the launch, Presidents Ugandans use voter’s card as they Kagame and Kenyatta traveled to wait for issuance of their longKampala using their national ID awaited national ID cards. cards, an act that was seen as a The use of ID cards has facilitated catalyst to support the project. people, mostly those involved The use of national ID cards is in cross border trade and others one of the mega projects under with other travel reasons such the auspices of the Northern as visiting friends and family or Corridor Integration Initiative attending conferences, workshops which the three countries agreed and meetings to carry on with to fast-track with the aim to attain their travels. greater benefits of the corridor’s integration process. Observers say Today, a traveler requires just a that the use of ID cards and other national ID card especially for projects in the Northern Corridor Rwandans and Kenyans, voting Initiative framework, which has cards for Ugandans and student since seen the entry of South cards to move. It applies to all Sudan, is one of the most exciting Kenyan, Rwandan and Ugandan and dynamic ventures undertaken borders including airports.The use
of IDs has saved time and money to travelers, according to some Rwandan nationals who spoke to Integration Affairs Magazine. At Gatuna border, the busiest border post linking Rwanda to Uganda and then Kenya, most travelers especially those from Rwanda use their ID cards for clearance at the immigration offices. The Communications Officer at Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Ange Sebutege says that the number of travelers using ID cards has recently increased with people now embarking on using IDs instead of passports. Since January up to December 2014, 1,176, 787 Rwandans have crossed borders using their Identification cards. As it is done with passports, travelers present their ID cards and immigration officers check whether they are valid. However, whereas the passports have space where immigration officers stamp, the ID cards don’t have that space.
A Rwandese National uses National ID Card as a travel document at Gatuna Border post www.mineac.gov.rw July-Dec 2014
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