The Ministry of Internal Affairs has arrested 231 illegal migrants in two major crackdowns on irregular migration.
Acting on credible intelligence, enforcement teams apprehended 62 Nigerian nationals in Adjumani District on April 27, 2026. The group was found operating without valid work permits while engaging in activities that included running a church.
In a separate intelligence-led operation conducted on the night of April 27–28, 2026, in the Bukoto–Ntinda area of Kampala, NCIC officers arrested 169 foreign nationals residing in an apartment complex in Bukoto without valid immigration status. The group, which included 36 women, was operating from a highly restricted, self-contained facility equipped with its own restaurant and internal systems designed to limit movement and support illicit activities.
A search of the premises uncovered a large cache of computers and IT equipment allegedly used to facilitate illegal gaming, betting, and organized cyber fraud. Authorities also noted that the suspects lacked proper identification documents, including passports. Those arrested in the Kampala operation are nationals of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
Preliminary investigations indicate mixed circumstances among the suspects. Some claim they were trafficked into Uganda under false promises of employment, while others are believed to have been directly involved in cybercrime. A number were also found with materials suggesting links to other criminal activities.
According to the Ministry’s spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi, all 231 individuals are undergoing thorough screening and processing. He stated that those found in violation of immigration laws will be prosecuted in accordance with Ugandan law, while cases involving suspected human trafficking or other crimes will be handed over to relevant law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
Mundeyi reaffirmed the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ commitment, alongside NCIC, to ensuring that all foreign nationals residing or working in Uganda are properly documented and compliant with national regulations. He also urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest immigration office or police station.
CUE IN MUNDEYI…..ON THE ARRESTS……LUG/ENG//
