Police and the Immigrations Department have arrested close to 200 illegal immigrants from India and Pakistan who have been living in eastern Uganda.
Anton Oroma, the Principle Immigration Officer, says 50 illegal immigrants have been arrested in Iganga, 82 in Jinja and 102 in Mbale. He says the operation will be extended to other districts in eastern Uganda.
According to Oroma those arrested did not have any valid migration or travel documents. Others entered Uganda on tourist or visitors' visas and extended their stay in Uganda illegally.
The Iganga District Police Commander, Joseph Engwedu, says most of the illegal immigrants in the district were found at the Tembo Steel Rolling Mills factory and Indian-owned merchandise shops and supermarkets. A few of the detainees, who spoke to the media, insisted that they had valid documents and that their arrest and potential deportation was illegal.
The operation in Iganga forced many Indian traders in the district off the streets. The immigrants closed their shops and stayed at home behind locked doors for fear of arrest.
