Uganda Arrests 231 Foreign Nationals Including Nigerians In Cybercrime Crackdown

Uganda Arrests 231 Foreign Nationals Including Nigerians In Cybercrime Crackdown

Ugandan authorities have arrested 231 foreign nationals, including dozens of Nigerians, in two coordinated intelligence-led operations targeting irregular migration, undocumented residency, suspected cybercrime activities and possible human trafficking networks across the country.

The large-scale crackdown was carried out by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control under Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs between April 27 and 28, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to combat transnational organised crime and tighten immigration enforcement.

According to officials, the first operation took place on April 27 in Adjumani District, northern Uganda, where immigration enforcement teams arrested 62 Nigerian nationals allegedly residing and operating in the country without valid work permits or immigration documentation.

Authorities disclosed that some members of the group were allegedly running an unlicensed church and engaging in other unauthorised business activities despite lacking legal residency status. The operation was reportedly launched following intelligence reports and complaints from local residents.

A second operation was later conducted overnight in the upscale Bukoto-Ntinda area of Kampala, where security operatives raided a heavily guarded apartment complex and detained 169 additional foreign nationals, including 36 women.

Officials said the suspects came from several countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi, said the apartment complex had features that raised security concerns, including controlled entry systems and restricted internal movement.

According to him, the facility appeared structured to support organised illegal operations while limiting access to outsiders.

During searches carried out at the premises, immigration and security officials reportedly recovered computers, mobile devices and other information technology equipment suspected to have been used for cyber scamming, online fraud, illegal betting and other internet-related crimes.

Preliminary investigations also suggested that some of the detained individuals may have been victims of human trafficking schemes after allegedly being lured into Uganda with false job promises, while others are suspected to be directly involved in organised cybercrime networks operating within East Africa.

Authorities revealed that many of those arrested were unable to provide valid passports, visas or work permits during the screening process.

All 231 suspects are currently being held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs facility in Namanve, where they are undergoing profiling, immigration verification and further investigations ahead of prosecution.

Officials stated that individuals found guilty of violating Uganda’s immigration laws could face deportation, financial penalties and possible blacklisting from re-entering the country.

The Ugandan government described the operations as part of a broader national strategy aimed at preventing the country from becoming a hub for transnational cybercrime syndicates, human trafficking rings and illegal migration networks.

Authorities also warned landlords and property owners to verify the immigration status of foreign tenants before renting out apartments or business spaces to them.

Members of the public were further encouraged to continue sharing intelligence with security agencies regarding suspicious activities involving undocumented foreigners or organised criminal networks.

As of the time of filing this report, Ugandan authorities had not publicly released the identities of the arrested individuals.

Uganda Arrests 231 Foreign Nationals Including Nigerians In Cybercrime Crackdown