The Ugandan police is stuck with 27 nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who tried to cross the country into neighbouring Kenya without proper documentation.
The Regional Police Commander for Bukedi, Julius Caesar Tusingwire, said on Thursday that a good number of them were children.
“We intercepted them on August 29 as they tried to cross through the border point of Malaba into Kenya. They do not have any documents on them,” Tusingwire said.
He added that they were currently being held at the eastern central police station of Tororo district.
“When we contacted the Kenyan authorities, they told us they did not have any records concerning these Congolese. At first we thought they are refugees but they have refused to tell us the intention of their movement or where they came from,” the Senior Superintendent of Police said.
On the way forward, Tusingwire said they would consult the Office of the Prime Minister and the Congolese high commission in Uganda to see how they could help the group.
“We have not mistreated them in any way. I can confirm that they are all in good health, including the children. Uganda welcomes all visitors of good intention but they should not give us hard time if they need our help,” the police officer said.
Uganda is host more than a million refugees mostly from the DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.
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