Author: MEDDY MULISA, Bukoba
AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Immigration Department in Kagera Region has arrested three Ethiopians for entering and living in the country without processing residential permits.
Kagera Regional Immigration Officer (RIO), Mr Hamza Shaban named the Ethiopians as Alex Kabeda (20), who is their ring leader, Addise Anulo (30) and Nirassu Mishamo (22).
According to Mr Shaban, the three foreigners were arrested at Mutukula border, in Missenyi District on October 31, this year.
“Initial investigations revealed that the three foreigners were residing in South Sudan where they crossed to Uganda. From Kampala they hired motorcycles (boda boda) to take them to Mutukula border,” he said.
He explained that the Ethiopians would be arraigned today (Tuesday) to answer a charge of entering into Tanzania without processing residential permits.
A few weeks ago, the Immigration Department nabbed a Pakistan national for entering and living in the United Republic of Tanzania without proper documents.
Mr Hamza Shabani identified the foreigner as Muhammad Adinani Tahir (40) whose initial investigations revealed that he entered in Tanzania after crossing from Uganda and was arrested at the Bukoba Airport.
He explained that special patrol units comprising Immigration Officials have been formed along Rusumo on Rwanda border, Kabanga (Burundi) and Mutukula (Uganda).
The patrols have been extended to Bugango in Missenyi District and Murongo, in Kyerwa Districts, he said.
“During Covid-19 Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi announced a lock- down while Lorries carrying transit goods were allowed to enter the countries. Special patrol units comprising Immigration Officials have been formed along border areas to control illegal immigrants especially during this period as the nation prepares for the October 28 General Election,” he added.
The officer further said that at least 609 prohibited immigrants were nabbed by the Immigration Department in Kagera Region between June-August, this year for entering and living in the United Republic of Tanzania without processing residential permits.
The prohibited immigrants included 405 Burundians, where 400 of them were thereafter deported while five others were arraigned in court.
The list also included 125 Ugandans where 123 of them were deported and two were arraigned in court, 73 Rwandese, two Ethiopians, two from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one Cameroonian and a Kenyan.
However, he said in the crime, ten Tanzanians-all residents of Karagwe District have been issued with a warning for aiding the foreigners to cross and live in Tanzania illegally.
Expounding, he said the immigration officials in collaboration with village leadership are working closely to identify people who lived in the country without processing residential permits.
Mr Shabani appealed to residents in the region to report aliens to authorities for necessary measures, adding that: “Border between a country and another is an opportunity for people to live harmoniously….people should use border areas to do business and improve their living standards and not assist illegal immigrants to jump borders.”
