A third immigration officer, Moses Muhairwe, has been charged before Buganda Road Court today with abuse of office.
Muhairwe's charges stem from a case in which two Congolese women, traveling on forged Ugandan passports were deported from Belgium and later released from custody in Uganda under unclear circumstances. He is jointly charged with two other immigration officers, Chris Ongyera and Edith Basirika.
The prosecution in the case alleges that two Congolese women, Mesi Kabeya and Munier Fongarnan, traveled to Brussels in February this year using forged Ugandan passports.
On arrival in Belgium, the authorities identified the duo as Congolese dissidents and deported them to Uganda for investigations into the passport forgery. An investigation by the Immigrations Department found Ongyera and Basirika approved the forged travel documents, which identified the two Congolese as businesswomen.
The prosecution claims that on arrival at Entebbe International Airport, the Congolese women were handed over to Muhairwe, who detained them at Jinja Road Police Station for two days before they were released on police bond. Muhairwe, Ongyera and Basirika allegedly demanded a huge bribe from the women to secure their release.
Muhairwe denied the charges. He, Ongyera and Basirika have been remanded to Luzira Prison until July 31st.
