The Ugandan government has explained how it tracked down Nigerians who own church businesses but engage in shady acts in the country.
As a result, 62 Nigerians have been detained by the Ugandan government for living and working in the nation without the necessary permissions and for “illegally operating” a church.
The Ugandan National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC) stated in a statement on its X account on Wednesday that the arrest was the result of a tip after discovering that the people were operating unlawfully without the necessary permissions.
“Following a tip-off, our enforcement team has arrested 62 Nigerian nationals operating illegally in Adjumani (without work permits). The group, primarily found operating a church among other things, is now being processed for prosecution under Uganda’s immigration”, the statement read.
In addition, Simon Peter Mundeyi, a spokesman for the nation’s ministry of internal affairs, Nigerians frequently participate in illicit activities while posing as gospel preachers.
ENigeria Newspaper also gathered that Mundeyi further clarified that early investigations uncovered conflicting statements from the suspects; some said they were tricked into coming to Uganda by false work offers, while others are suspected of being involved in internet fraud and similar offenses.
“We also ask landlords who offer accommodation facilities to people who are clearly not Ugandans to endeavour to request at least the immigration status of foreign tenants before allowing them to settle on their premises,” he added.
He continued by saying that they are presently being detained at the ministry’s Namanve facility while they go through legal proceedings that could lead to blacklisting, fines, or deportation.
