Uganda, Netherlands join forces to tackle document fraud

In a strengthened effort to address the growing threat of fraudulent travel documents, Uganda and the Government of the Netherlands have partnered to launch a specialised training program for immigration officers.

The initiative, focused on document examination and fraud detection, was unveiled on Monday at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

Presided over by Maj. Gen. Apollo Kasiita-Gowa, the Chief Citizenship and Immigration Control Officer at the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC), the event also marked a key milestone in hostmanship collaboration between Uganda and the Netherlands.

Speaking to the media, Maj. Gen. Kasiita-Gowa, the chief guest at the eveng, emphasised the importance of the training initiative in light of evolving global travel trends and rising document fraud.

“As the ambassador rightly noted, the world is dynamic, and people are traveling to many places. They use documents to facilitate that movement and, unfortunately, many of those documents are fraudulent.”

He noted that the training aims to equip officers with the skills to detect forged documents, including fake letters, passports, and visas.

“This partnership with the Netherlands will help us appreciate the latest global technologies in document fraud detection and areas related to hostmanship. We are hopeful our officers will benefit greatly from this initiative.” Gowa said.

The General stressed that the issue of document fraud extends beyond Ugandan borders.

“We’re not only looking at Ugandan documents. We’re talking about international documents, from the Netherlands, the U.S., and many other countries. This is why our officers must be trained to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent documents.”

He also highlighted the human factor in document fraud stating that it is not a system problem but an individual issue.

"People who have been denied entry into a country may attempt to use fake documents to gain access. That’s why we must be prepared," Gowa said.

While acknowledging that fraudsters continually adapt, he expressed confidence in the value of innovation and collaboration: “We cannot claim 100% foolproof systems, but this partnership will go a long way in mitigating document fraud.”

In her remarks, the Netherlands' Ambassador to Uganda, Frederieke Quispel praised the longstanding relationship between the Netherlands and Uganda, which has included investment in agriculture since the 1990s.

“The Netherlands and Uganda are both great agricultural nations with much to share. But today, we are here to focus on something different," Quispel said.

She reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Uganda in strengthening systems that manage migration securely and effectively.

Rob Van Bokhoven: “Capacity Building Must Be Practical”

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Rob Van Bokhoven, Director of International Affairs at the Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security emphasized the practical nature of the training.

“We’re here to kick off this document training for senior officials and DCIC colleagues. This is an important step in our collaboration. As the ambassador mentioned, we have a Memorandum of Understanding, and we are always looking for practical opportunities to strengthen that cooperation," Bokhoven said

He noted that the aim of the training is to build awareness and technical competence.

“The purpose is to give officers the knowledge to detect what is fraudulent and what is genuine, and to understand how to act within the technicalities of their profession,” he explained.

The training is part of a wider effort to build Uganda’s capacity in combating cross-border crimes and improving the integrity of its immigration system.

Over the coming weeks, immigration officers will receive intensive, hands-on instruction using both traditional methods and modern technologies.

As document fraud becomes more sophisticated, both Uganda and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to working together, not only to train frontline personnel but also to share innovations and best practices.