Fibre Cable Cut Halts Passport Services at Kyambogo, Jinja as Immigration Names Alternative Centres

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has temporarily suspended passport issuance services at the Kyambogo Passport Issuance Centre in Kampala and the Jinja Regional Passport Office following a fibre-optic cable cut that disrupted operations at the two facilities.

The disruption has affected passport production and issuance, inconveniencing applicants who planned to collect their travel documents from the affected centres as the government works to restore the services.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through the National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC), confirmed that the Kyambogo Passport Issuance Centre, formerly known as Face Technologies, was temporarily non-operational because of the fibre cable cut.

“The Kyambogo Passport Issuance Centre (formerly Face Technologies) is temporarily non-operational due to a fibre cut, affecting passport issuance services,” the statement reads.

The ministry also reported technical difficulties at the Jinja Regional Passport Office, where passport production and issuance had been halted.

The interruption means applicants expecting to receive their passports from either Kyambogo or Jinja may have to adjust their plans until normal operations resume.

Alternative Passport Issuance Centres

Despite the disruption, the ministry said passport services remain available at other designated offices across the country, providing alternative options for applicants who need to access the services.

The operational centres include the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters in Kampala and regional passport offices in Mbale, Gulu, Mbarara and Arua.

Applicants who had planned to collect their passports from Kyambogo or Jinja are advised to seek clarification from the ministry before travelling to another centre to establish the appropriate arrangements for accessing the service.

The availability of alternative centres is expected to ease some of the inconvenience caused by the disruption, particularly for applicants with urgent travel commitments.

However, applicants should confirm the services available at their preferred alternative office before making travel arrangements. 

Technical Teams Working to Restore Services

Immigration spokesperson Simon Peter Mundeyi said technical teams were working with service providers to resolve the problem and restore normal operations at the affected facilities.

“Our technical teams, working together with our service providers, are making every effort to restore services as soon as possible,” Mundeyi said.

He apologised to applicants affected by the interruption and appealed for patience as the technical teams worked to address the problem.

The ministry did not provide a specific timeline for the restoration of services at Kyambogo and Jinja. It also did not disclose the precise circumstances surrounding the fibre cable cut.

The duration of the disruption will therefore depend on how quickly the technical teams and service providers can repair the affected infrastructure and restore the systems required for passport processing.

Applicants Urged to Seek Official Guidance

The interruption highlights the importance of reliable telecommunications infrastructure in supporting essential government services, including passport production and issuance.

Fibre-optic connections are used to support digital communications and data transmission, making disruptions to such infrastructure capable of affecting services that depend on connected systems.

For passport applicants, delays can create additional logistical challenges, particularly for those who have scheduled international trips, business engagements, educational programmes or other commitments requiring valid travel documents.

Applicants seeking clarification about the affected centres, alternative service locations or the restoration of operations can contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs through its official communication channels or call **0417102600**.

The ministry has urged affected members of the public to remain patient as efforts continue to restore services.

Until an official resumption notice is issued, applicants are encouraged to verify the operational status of their intended passport centre before travelling, to minimise unnecessary journeys and further inconvenience.

The ministry has yet to announce when passport issuance will resume at Kyambogo and Jinja.