40 Rwandans arrested in Queen Elizabeth National Park

SECURITY

KASESE - Police in Kasese say they have arrested 44 Rwandan nationals in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Rwenzori East Regional Police Commander Vincent Mwesigye said they were intercepted by traffic officers at Katunguru aboard two passenger mini-buses on Wednesday.

He said the vehicles' drivers would be charged with overloading.

"When they were asked to identify themselves, they all produced Rwandan identity cards but had no immigration documents allowing them entry into Uganda," Twesigye said during a press briefing at his office on Friday.

A Rwandan national ID of one of those arrested. (Credit: John Thawite)

"They admitted to having moved into Uganda via various Uganda-Rwanda border points along Kabale [in western Uganda]," he added.

Mwesigye said the Rwandans were then driven to Kasese where they made statements before being released.

"We wouldn't have arrested them if they had entered Uganda legally, which the East African Community has now made easy," he said.

"We are going to screen them and cross-check the statements they have made and establish the borders they purport to have used and educate them on how to enter our country legally next time," said senior immigration officer Joyce Kabasongora.

Rwenzori East Regional Police Commander SP Vincent Mwesigye. (Credit: John Thawite)

Senior immigration officer Joyce Kabasongora said they would screen the Rwandans.  (Credit: John Thawite)

Earlier this week, American Kimbley Sue Endecott and Ugandan driver Jean Paul were reportedly abducted by four armed men in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The kidnappings led to Ugandan security forces to launch a hunt for the alleged kidnappers.

(Find details in Saturday Vision. You can read the story via the electronic version of the paper >> HERE )



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