Uganda has deported 32 Rwandan and three nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The deportees were arrested in a joint security operation involving the army and police in the areas of Russia, Muline and Karumena in Kisoro district in the wee hours of Monday morning. The operation netted more than 200 people, some of who did not have any identification document.
According to Uganda Radio Network (URN) news outlet, after a screening exercise, most of suspects were released, while 39 of them, who were found to have entered Uganda illegally were arraigned before Kisoro Grade one magistrate, Raphael Vueni, on Tuesday and were charged with illegal entry into the country.
Three Rwandan suspects and a DRC national pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to Kisoro government prison until December 18, 2019. The remaining 35 suspects pleaded guilty and asked for a pardon.
Magistrate Vueni remanded them to prison until yesterday Wednesday. Upon their appearance, the magistrate ordered Ugandan security and immigration teams to deport them to their respective countries saying that they should have followed proper procedures, to stay in Uganda.
Shortly after the decision, the 35 were whisked to Chanika and Bunagana border posts, where their deportation documents were processed.
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