Kampala — Many Africans seeking asylum in Germany claim to be Ugandans, a report has revealed.

Written for the new Ugandan ambassador to Germany, Nyine Bitahwa, by the outgoing Berlin mission accounting officer, Vastor Rwankote, the report said most of the migrants claimed to be from war-ravaged northern Uganda.

They also claim that they were rescued by good Samaritans who disappear from them on arrival in Germany, the report added.

The document also indicated that many claimed to have run away from Uganda for fear of persecution because they support opposition parties.

According to the report, 70% of the claimants interviewed by the Germany authorities and the Ugandan embassy were not Ugandans.

The culprits are nationals whose countries do not have bilateral agreements permitting them to live freely in Germany, said Rwankote.

He informed the ambassador that out of 21 persons interviewed on March 4, 2008, only seven were confirmed "beyond reasonable doubt" to be Ugandans.

To determine whether one is Ugandan, the claimants are asked whether they had any knowledge on the geography of the country, the local administrative systems and general knowledge, especially the area where the persons claims to be his birthplace or where he grew up.

The Berlin mission is also responsible for Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the Holy See (Vatican).

While touring Uganda's missions abroad last month, MPs on the public accounts committee were surprised to learn that Bitahwa has been renting a two bed-room apartment for the last six months, contrary to regulations.

"This has not only been burdensome for me and my family, but it is also inconvenient for the head of mission to live under such temporary conditions," Bitahwa lamented.

The MPs, led by Reagan Okumu also discovered that one of the drivers, with no accounting skills, had been deployed as an accountant.

In a report to the MPs, Bitahwa complained that there were no formal handover reports by his predecessor, Elizabeth Bagaya.

According to Bitahwa, although Bagaya was officially transferred in August last year, she left in January 2008, causing unexpected housing expenditure.