KIGALI - This week, 15 people with foreign citizenships will acquire Rwandan nationality, making the group the fifth lot of foreigners to get Rwandan IDs.

Three of these will not be officially sworn in though their names are already recorded in the national gazette as dual citizens.

According to Ange Sebutege, the Public Relations Officer at the Immigration and Emigration department, , the three successfully recovered their nationality after a long time in exile.

"People who left the country before 1959 are not considered as refugees. Upon return, the law stipulates that one applies to recover their nationality though swearing in is not necessary,” he said.

He revealed that those set to take the oath include two Burundians, three Congolese, three Suisse and one from both Uganda and Italy.

Most of those who got the dual citizenship could not hide their excitement when contacted by The New Times.

Jacques Hussein Kabonga is a Congolese who has been married to a Rwandan wife for over 23 years and sees the acquisition of a second nationality of great advantage.

"I lived with my family in Burundi from where we shifted to DR Congo and finally decided to settle in Rwanda. It is of great value to acquire the Rwandan nationality,” Kabonga said.

Caleb Tumusiime, a Rwandan who was born in Uganda, expressed happiness upon recovering his nationality.

"I have missed a number of opportunities to travel abroad because I didn’t have a Rwandan passport, but fortunately, now it will be no more,” he said.

Ends