By David Ssempijja

CROSS-BOARDER passenger transporters risk being fined $2,500 (about sh4.7m) per illegal immigrant brought into the country. “This is one of the deterrent measures the internal affairs ministry has devised to curb the current massive entry of illegal immigrants into the country,” Eunice Kisembo, the immigration directorate spokesperson, said.

She said the meausure would force transport companies to always scrutinise clients’ travel documents to ascertian their immigration status.

She added that most transporters do not scrutinise the clients’ immigration status, but were only interested in money.

“We are executing these regulations in line with the required standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.” However, she added that the measure would also cover road and sea transporters.

The Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act provides for prosecution of the owner, agent or a person in charge of a ship, an aircraft or a vehicle, who brings in an illegal person.