12 foreigners arrested over illegally acquiring national IDs

They entered Uganda as students to seek education from one of Uganda's universities, however, security organs believe they did not come to study but rather for a clandestine spy mission.

For that some of these suspected people are now in custody as investigations into the matter go on.

According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, 11 foreign nationals who have been students as well as an official from the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) are in Police custody, accused of acquiring national identity cards illegally.

The Police's Special Investigations Division (SID) arrested the suspects last week following tips from an undisclosed source.

Enanga said the foreigners pay people to acquire national IDs for them and said there is a vast conspiracy at play in the acquisition of national identity cards.

"We shall find out how they got the information in their forms right from the local council 1. The information has to be concrete and thorough," Enanga said.

He called on foreigners to follow the right procedure in acquiring citizenship and national identity cards which were laid out by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control.   

Enanga, however, declined to divulge the particulars of the accused, saying they will be revealed at a later stage.

20 others arrested

In a separate operation, Police has netted 20 men in an operation targeting city gangs.

John Kaddu, a former convict, Daniel Mbuga, Muhamood Nsha, Male Bahir, Najib Kasirye, Lawrence Sekamate, Jimmy Tibitendwa, Pius Okoth and Isma Walubo were arrested in Mutungo, Kitintale and surrounding areas.

According to the Police, the suspects were involved in aggravated robberies, burglaries and theft.

Amos Arinaitwe, Godfrey Tusbirwe, and Bright Tukshaba, all residents of Kulambiro were arrested along Northern Bypass at 1:50 am in possession of pangas, iron bar and spearhead. They were also found with Military and Police headgear.

Those arrested from the city suburbs of Katwe for stealing phones are Joseph Kasera alias boy, Vincent Nabende and Ivan Afikir.

Police also arrested three notorious primed suspects, who operate at major traffic points within the city especially at Kololo, Golf coast and Lugogo Bypass. They are Trevor Senoga alias Peter Kasolo, the leader of Kasolo boys in Nakulabye and Kawempe Gerald Kalule and Moses Kasirye.

Enanga said the suspects were monitored on CCTV. The trio led to the arrest of Mathias Mwebe who Police alleges deploys his colleagues to steal and take stolen goods to him.

Mwebe, according to Police, sales phones at Coper Complex in Town.