Uganda’s National Citizenship and Immigration Control says it arrested 62 Nigerians on Monday, for operating a church in Adjumani district and residing in the country without valid immigration documents.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the NCIC spokesperson, Mundeyi Simon Peter, the agency said its enforcement teams apprehended a group of Nigerians for operating a church without valid work permits.

“As part of a nationwide commitment to national security and the rule of law, the National Citizenship and Immigration Control has successfully conducted two major enforcement operations against irregular migration,” the statement said.

“Acting on credible intelligence, enforcement teams apprehended 62 Nigerian nationals in Adjumani District on April 27, 2026. The group was found operating illegally, specifically without valid work permits, while engaged in activities that included the operation of a church,” it said.

Similarly, the agency said its enforcement team arrested another 169 foreign nationals in the Bukoto-Ntinda area of Kampala for lacking valid immigration and travel documents.

“This group, which included 36 women, was operating from a highly restricted, self-contained apartment complex equipped with its own restaurant and internal facilities designed to restrict movement and ensure total focus on illicit operations,” the agency stated.

The agency noted that its enforcement operatives recovered a cache of computers and IT equipment used to facilitate “illegal gaming, betting and organised scamming”.

The agency said the individuals apprehended were citizens from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Preliminary processing indicates varied circumstances among those arrested. Some individuals have claimed they were trafficked into Uganda with promises of employment. Others were engaged in cyber-scamming activities. A few were found in possession of materials suggesting involvement in other criminal activities,” Mr Mundeyi.

The agency stated that all 231 individuals arrested across the two operations are currently undergoing rigorous screening and processing.

“Those found in violation of Ugandan immigration laws will face prosecution in accordance with the country’s laws. Cases involving suspected trafficking or criminal activity will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation,” the statement said.