Age fabrication is common habit in Africa especially amongst women. However even men lie about age particularly those in careers that are age influenced like sports.
Back here in Uganda, Buganda Road Court has fined Jackline Kaitesi, a resident of Namugongo Shs200000 for lying about her age. Kaitesi was arrested by a suspicious immigration officer at Entebbe International Airport on her way to Dubai to work as a security guard.
Kaitesi’s passport indicated that she was 31 years old but her appearance showed she was above 31 according to the immigration officer. She was then requested to produce her national ID that eventually confirmed her real age.
The national identity card revealed that she was born on December 1, 1980, which makes her 40 years and not 31.
However, Kaitesi dfended herself in court saying that it was an employee of Middle East Consultants a one Nicholas Twinomugisha who changed her age after she had paid him to help her process a passport.
Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu charged Kaitesi with unlawful alteration of a passport contrary to section 48[3] of the Uganda citizenship and immigration control act.
Kaitesi pleaded for mercy saying that she is a mother of two children aged 12 and 16 years. Magistrate Kamasanyu said that although she had pleaded guilty and not wasted court’s time and also appears remorse the offence she committed is on the rise and a fine of Shs200, 000 is appropriate for her to act as a lesson never to repeat it.