Immigration authorities have cracked down on irregular migration in two major operations, netting 231 foreign nationals, including a group of Nigerians running an unlicensed church and a large syndicate of Asian and African nationals allegedly involved in cyber-enabled crimes.
According to Simon Peter Mundeyi, ministry of internal affairs spokesperson, in the first operation on April 27, enforcement teams from the National Citizenship and Immigration Control apprehended 62 Nigerian nationals in Adjumani District.
The group was operating without valid work permits, with many involved in running a church and other activities in violation of Ugandan immigration laws,” Mundeyi said.
Just hours later, in a nighttime intelligence-led raid in the Bukoto-Ntinda area of Kampala, officers also raided a heavily secured, self-contained apartment complex and detained 169 foreign nationals. The suspects, who had no valid immigration documents or passports, included citizens from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Malaysia (36 of them women).
The Bukoto complex was reportedly designed like a fortified compound, complete with its own restaurant and internal facilities, apparently to isolate residents and maintain intense focus on operations.
Mundeyi noted that during the search, authorities recovered a large cache of computers, laptops, and IT equipment suspected to have been used for illegal gaming, online betting, and organized cyber-scamming activities.
Preliminary screening revealed mixed profiles among the arrested: while some claimed they were trafficked into Uganda with false promises of legitimate jobs, others are suspected of active involvement in cyber fraud. A few were found with materials linked to additional criminal activities.
All 231 individuals are currently undergoing rigorous screening and processing. Those confirmed to be in violation of immigration laws will be prosecuted, while cases involving human trafficking or serious cybercrime will be handed over to relevant agencies such as the police for deeper investigation.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and NCIC emphasized that the operations form part of a broader national effort to enforce immigration laws, safeguard national security, and protect Ugandan cyberspace from illicit activities.
“Every foreign national must comply with our laws,” Mundeyi stated. “We continue to urge members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest immigration office or police station.”
