By Spy Uganda
The son of the late tycoon Bonney Katatumba, Rugiirwa Katatumba is on spot for allegedly using dubious means to acquire a highly valued ‘diplomatic’ passport.
Rugiirwa well known for burning up his father’s empire through booze and cigar, has left concerned Ugandans wondering how and where he got a VIP (red passport), which is a preserve of very distinguished persons, such as government workers like the President, First Lady, Speaker of parliament, Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice, ministers, permanent secretaries, Bank Governors and deputy Governors, chancellors, vice chancellors, and recognised cultural leaders among other diplomats.
Sources first claimed that it’s the Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Kahinda Otafiire who was a close friend to his father Katatumba, who recommended him for a red passport. However, via phone interview, Otafiire distanced self ever recommending Rugiirwa for a red passport. “I worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now forget that I am the Minister for Internal Affairs. I am a former diplomat. I know how these things are done. Even children of diplomats don’t get diplomatic passports once they turn 18. At 18, they get their ordinary passports, so i was his father’s friend who was a diplomat, not him. I have no idea how he got the passport, ” he said. Â
Katatumba Holding A Diplomatic Passport Is So Risky For Uganda
Giving diplomatic passports to ordinary individuals like Katatumba more over who is famous in criminology circles can pose several risks as summarized below:
Misuse of Privileges: Diplomatic passports grant special privileges, such as immunity from certain legal actions and easier travel. Ordinary people might misuse these benefits, leading to legal and diplomatic issues for the country.
Security Risks: Diplomatic passports can be attractive targets for theft or forgery. If ordinary individuals are given such passports, it could increase the risk of security breaches or misuse in illegal activities.
Undermining Diplomatic Integrity: The issuance of diplomatic passports is typically reserved for diplomats and officials who represent their countries. Issuing them to ordinary people could undermine the credibility and integrity of the diplomatic system.
Diplomatic Tensions: The improper use of diplomatic passports by individuals who are not trained or vetted diplomats could lead to diplomatic incidents or strained relations between countries.
