Article 12
Citizenship by registration
This is the official English text as consolidated on 31 December 2023. The English text is the law.
Every person born in Uganda —
at the time of whose birth—
neither of his or her parents and none of his or her grandparents had diplomatic status in Uganda; and
neither of his or her parents and none of his or her grandparents was a refugee in Uganda; and
who has lived continuously in Uganda since the ninth day of October, 1962,
shall, on application, be entitled to be registered as a citizen of Uganda.
The following persons shall, upon application, be registered as citizens of Uganda —
every person married to a Uganda citizen upon proof of a legal and subsisting marriage of three years or such other period prescribed by Parliament;
every person who has legally and voluntarily migrated to and has been living in Uganda for at least ten years or such other period prescribed by Parliament;
every person who, on the commencement of this Constitution, has lived in Uganda for at least twenty years.
Clause (2)(a) of this Article applies also to a person who was married to a citizen of Uganda who, but for his or her death, would have continued to be a citizen of Uganda under this Constitution.
Where a person has been registered as a citizen of Uganda under clause (2)(a) of this Article and the marriage by virtue of which that person was registered is—
annulled or otherwise declared void by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction; or
dissolved,
that person shall, unless he or she renounces that citizenship, continue to be a citizen of Uganda.