MBALE: 14 Illegal Immigrants Arrested

By Nathan Ngobi

The Internal affairs ministry under their immigration department arrested 14 illegal immigrants in a deadly day and night operation carried out in Mbale city on Monday and Tuesday.

According to Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson of the internal affair’s immigration department revealed that among those arrested were from India, Pakistan, Lebanon and Nigeria.

He said that they will undergo a scrutiny process after which some are to face prosecution for illegally operating in Uganda.

Mundeyi on his X platform wrote “Our enforcement team arrested 14 irregular immigrants from India, Pakistan, Lebanon and Nigeria in Mbale city today. They are currently being processed for prosecution, we urge foreign nationals to ensure compliance by applying online at Vissa.immigration.go.ug”.

He said that the arrested group have been living and working in Uganda without the requisite immigration documents.

He added that some of these immigrants were found working without work permits, others had expired entry visas, they were given visas of maximum of 3 months but have lived for years, we have even gotten some of these who have lived here for a period of 10 years on account of marrying Ugandan girls, but of course they did it illegally they have never registered for documents to allow them stay here but most importantly to engage in marriage, Mundeyi pointed out.

Mundeyi disclosed that Government will start taking the illegal arrested immigrants to court from Wednesday, adding that those who could be found with lesser immigration issues  will be allowed to regularise their stay  by applying for the requisite immigration facilities  and then be allowed to continue , then those who are found with very serious immigration issues like  the ones who have been staying for a period of 10 years  definitely will have to be first of all fined for having illegally stayed here and a fine is $30 dollars per day and thereafter  they will be deported back to their respective countries.

He urged foreign nationals to comply by following the online immigration links and apply for their stay after paying $2500 dollars per year.