Vietnamese arrested in Uganda over expired visas
The suspects have spent about two weeks in detention, which is against the law
Police, working with officials of the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, have detained five Vietnamese for allegedly staying in Uganda beyond the period specified in the entry visas.
Our investigations show that the quintet was first detained at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) facility in Kireka, outside Kampala, on July 1. They were later relocated to Kira Police Division headquarters in Kyaliwajjala, Wakiso District, ostensibly because Immigration does not have its own cells to hold suspects.
A police source familiar with the matter told this newspaper on condition of anonymity that the men flew into the country on a visitor visa, which they have overstayed, and were secretly scheming to obtain work permits without first exiting the country.
Both police and Immigration officials declined to name the suspects who have been in custody beyond the 48-hour constitutional limit without being arraigned in court or released on bond. It is also unclear why they have not been deported since it is alleged they violated Uganda’s immigration rules. “Immigration does not have them. Since you know where they are, you go and find out the details you need,” an Internal Affairs ministry official said.
Mr Charles Twine, the SIU spokesperson, confirmed the arrests and said the fate of the suspects is in the hands of Immigration. The suspects had expired visas, he said, and questioned how they turned to processing work permits. “They entered here as visitors but their visas expired and they were processing work permits. Their departure will depend on the convenience of Immigration or they could even grant them work permits,” Mr Twine added.
Restrictions
In Uganda, the law does not allow foreign nationals to engage in any form of gainful employment without a valid working permit issued by the Immigrations directorate. In 2017, the government bundled out a number of Kenyan journalists who were working in the country without valid work permits.
