Over 100 Kampala-bound Eritreans arrested in Karamoja

MOROTO - The combined force of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Police has intercepted 110 Eritrean immigrants for illegally entering Uganda.

The illegal immigrants, reportedly asylum seekers, entered Moroto district through Lokitanyala, a yet to be gazetted Uganda-Kenya crossing border point, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at night in a yellow bus reg. No. KAU 030U.

The individuals from the Horn of Africa country are believed to have come from various Eritrean districts back home en route to Kampala, among various places in the country.

The first group of 74 was intercepted on Wednesday night at Nadunget security checkpoint before being driven back to the Moroto Central Police Station, as the entourage tried to leave Karamoja for Kampala via Soroti.

Acting swiftly, the immigration office was able to transfer some 45 Eritreans, leaving more than a dozen in detention in Moroto.

Meanwhile, on July 3 (Thursday), the forces guided by the acting Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Justine Tuko stormed a home in Singila village, Katikeikile sub-county, where they rounded up another group of 37 Eritreans, of which 17 were female.

Information availed also led to the arrest of more than 37 Eritreans hiding in one of the premises in Singila village, where they were holed up.

When contacted, the RDC acknowledged that operations were ongoing in various places in the district, with a huge focus at the Uganda-Kenya border entry point.

Tuko said the Police will continue to hunt for those involved in the racket of trafficking the group.

He advised the asylum seekers to always follow proper channels, adding that Uganda, being peaceful, attracts everyone who is not satisfied back home.

Thus, it is not the first time Eritreans have been intercepted in Karamoja; a few years ago, over 20 were intercepted in Kotido and Moroto districts.

Tycoon arrested

Relatedly, a prominent tycoon was on Thursday arrested to provide leads into the investigations of how the Eritreans found their way to Moroto.

He identifies him as Obama, who is accused of being a caretaker of the home since the owner lives in America.

The village chairperson, Singila Moses Loduk, said that on Tuesday, a bus with a Kenyan number plate was visibly seen being driven into the compound where the group was hidden.

However, he was reluctant to follow up on the matter, saying it was business as usual because people with business are visited by colleagues.