A court in Masaka has convicted 67 nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and ordered their deportation after being found residing in Uganda without valid immigration documents.
The group was arrested on June 13th, 2026, during a security operation at Sumayiya Church, a Born Again place of worship located in Nyendo-Mukungwe division, Masaka city. Security agencies, acting on intelligence reports, raided the church while the Congolese nationals were attending a prayer service.
According to the prosecution, the group comprised 54 adults and 13 children, all of whom were unable to produce valid identification or immigration documents. State Prosecutor Abraham Akandehako told the court that their undocumented stay in Uganda contravened the country’s immigration laws and posed potential security concerns.
The case came before Grade One Magistrate Selsa Biwaga on June 16th, 2026. Of the 54 adults charged with illegal entry, 53 pleaded guilty and were convicted. The 13 children were not prosecuted due to their age.
The court subsequently directed the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, working alongside security agencies, to facilitate the group’s repatriation to the DRC.
One convict, identified as Ibrahim Amin, denied the charges and was remanded until July 2nd, 2026, for further hearing.
During mitigation, several of the convicts told the court that they had fled the ongoing conflict and insecurity in Eastern DRC. One of the accused, Patrick Rukoza, said many members of the group had been living in Masaka for more than two years after escaping violence in their home areas.
Meanwhile, some of the convicts also appealed for permission to return home briefly and collect their children before deportation. However, Magistrate Biwaga declined the request, while directing that families should not be separated during the repatriation process. She ordered immigration officials and police to trace the children and ensure they remain with their parents.
The Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson, Twaha Kasirye said preliminary investigations established that the Congolese nationals had settled in different parts of Nyendo division, including Kaddugala, Mukudde, Mukungwe and Kako, while regularly congregating at Sumayiya Church for worship.
The convicted individuals have since been transferred to Masaka Central Police Station, where they remain in custody pending the completion of deportation arrangements. Immigration authorities are expected to coordinate their return to the DRC in the coming days.
The development comes amid heightened attention to immigration control and border management in Uganda, particularly regarding people fleeing insecurity in Eastern Congo. Security agencies have urged religious institutions and local communities to verify the legal status of foreign nationals they host and to cooperate with immigration authorities in enforcing the country’s immigration laws.
