Immigration probe team visits border posts

By Simon Masaba

A probe team set up by Internal Affairs minister, Gen Aronda Nyakairima, has visited several border posts as part of investigations into service delivery at the centres.

The team headed by the deputy Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola, is investigating corruption and abuse of office at the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control.

Sources told New Vision that the probe team on Wednesday visited Entebbe International Airport as well as Portbell, Katuna, Mpondwe, Busia, Malaba, Atiak and Oraba border posts.

Benjamin Katana, the deputy spokesperson of the Directorate declined to comment on the visits but said the investigation into service delivery was ongoing.

There are 42 gazetted border points across the country and only 35 are operational.

Members of the team are Maj. Kibrai Ambako, Lt Col Moses Mwesigwa, Elly Kibira, Guma Komwiswa, Aliyo Natukunda (Superintendent of Prisons) and Stephen Okello (secretary).

The committee is also probing the issuance of diplomatic, official and ordinary passports and other documents to people who are not entitled to receive them.

The probe team is expected to release its findings before the end of this month.

Meanwhile, the Directorate is to recruit 480 workers in the financial year 2014/2014, as part of plans to enhance border patrol, routine surveillance and inspection.

Investigators are also probing poor service delivery and overcrowding at the Directorate’s head offices, mismanagement of records, staff indiscipline and diversion of funds.

The number includes 218 Immigration officers and 262 immigration assistants.

The Directorate is a public institution responsible for managing the registration of nationals, and deals with issuance of documents used for people travelling into and from Uganda.

Currently, the Directorate has only 337 personnel, which officials say is inadequate in ensuring effective and efficient service delivery.