Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi to roll out e-passport, Tanzania joins Kenya
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Kenya began to issue the new e-passport in September last year, becoming the first country in the region to do so.
Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are yet to roll out the e-passport, but have reported various stages of progress.
Rwanda has initiated a tender to procure both the systems and booklets for the regional e-passport, and is now in the final stages of contract-signing. A Cabinet paper on the e-passport modalities, including categories, validity and key features, was approved.
Burundi has already approved and domesticated the EAC designs and specifications of the document and is waiting to roll it out, while Uganda is still at the procurement and financing stage for the production of the e-passport booklets.
The e-passport - also known as the biometric passport - complies with guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), making it admissible globally. ■