KAMPALA – Ugandan authorities have arrested 62 Nigerian nationals for allegedly operating a church and residing in the country without valid work permits, the government confirmed on Wednesday.
The arrests took place on 27th April 2026 in Adjumani District, following an intelligence-led operation by Uganda’s National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC). Officials said the raid was prompted by a tip-off from members of the public.
Simon Peter Mundeyi, spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, told reporters that the group was found “operating illegally, specifically without valid work permits, while engaged in activities that included the operation of a church”.
“These people come under the guise of preaching the gospel and hide behind other irregular activities. So acting on that intelligence, we swung into action and were able to apprehend them,” Mundeyi said.
The NCIC confirmed that the 62 Nigerians are being held at the ministry’s Namanve facility, where they are undergoing legal processing. They could face deportation, fines, or blacklisting from entering Uganda in the future.
According to the immigration agency, the group was “primarily found operating a church among other things” and is being processed for prosecution under Ugandan immigration laws.
Preliminary investigations have revealed conflicting accounts from the suspects. While some claimed they were lured into Uganda with false job offers, others are believed to have links to online fraud and related offences.
Under Ugandan law, foreign nationals are not permitted to work without a valid work permit or special pass issued by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC). The DCIC noted that missionaries and volunteers require a Class G1 permit, while foreign employees fall under Class G2 permits. Religious workers and church operators must obtain the correct immigration status before carrying out ministry work.
The Adjumani operation was part of a wider crackdown that saw 231 foreign nationals detained across two raids on 27th April. In a separate operation in Kampala’s Bukoto–Ntinda area, authorities arrested 169 foreign nationals, including 36 women, for lacking valid immigration documentation.
That group – which included citizens from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Malaysia – was found in a self-contained apartment complex. Officials said computers and IT equipment linked to illegal gaming, betting, and organised scamming were recovered from the scene.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, the ministry said it remains committed to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring foreign nationals operate within legal frameworks. Mundeyi also urged landlords to exercise greater caution when renting to non-citizens.
