Corrupt officials allow back illegal immigrants-ministry
23rd October 2013
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Home Affairs Ministry has vowed to act against unscrupulous and corrupt public servants allowing illegal immigrants to secretly return to the country without following regulations.
The government has also instructed all district and regional security and defense committees to cooperate with immigration and police officers in identifying all illegal immigrants coming back, according to the ministry's spokesperson Isaack Nantanga.
The ministry's directive follows reports that hundreds of illegal immigrants who were removed during the first and second phases of 'Kimbunga Operation' were returning to the country with their properties.
"We're alerted of massive return of immigrants particularly those from Rwanda, Burundi and other neighbouring countries who were nabbed and returned to their countries," he told The Guardian in an exclusive interview yesterday.
Without giving details, Nantanga said the government had spent massive human and financial resources in the execution of Kimbunga operations and that it was likely more money would be spent to remove illegal immigrants.
He said police, defense and security committees in Kagera, Kigoma and Geita regions have been informed of the government directives.
He stressed that strong legal action will be taken against government officials and executives suspected to have actively assisted illegal immigrants to return to the country.
Commenting on the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) call to the government to prioritise collection of biometric information in the focus regions of operation 'Kimbunga', Nantanga said the idea is good but budget constraints have impeded the entire national identification process.
A journalist Daud Mugalura speaking to this paper directly from Kagera blamed corrupt officials in the operation for the illegal immigrants' return.
Mugalura who is with the team dispatched by LHRC to Kagera, Kigoma, Burundi and Rwanda on a mission to assess the situation after the operation, said some illegal immigrants in Rwanda and Burundi camps were not happy seeing their colleague 'intruders' not being affected by the operation.
He said the majority of illegal immigrants who are financially stable were left in the country during the operation while poor ones were evicted.
"Those in Burundi and Rwanda are also vowing to come back just because some were not taken during the operation," he informed.
He said economic stagnation in Rwanda and Burundi has led the majority of Rwanda and Burundi nationals to flock to Ngara, Karagwe and Kigoma districts searching for jobs.
The government has also instructed all district and regional security and defense committees to cooperate with immigration and police officers in identifying all illegal immigrants coming back, according to the ministry's spokesperson Isaack Nantanga.
The ministry's directive follows reports that hundreds of illegal immigrants who were removed during the first and second phases of 'Kimbunga Operation' were returning to the country with their properties.
"We're alerted of massive return of immigrants particularly those from Rwanda, Burundi and other neighbouring countries who were nabbed and returned to their countries," he told The Guardian in an exclusive interview yesterday.
Without giving details, Nantanga said the government had spent massive human and financial resources in the execution of Kimbunga operations and that it was likely more money would be spent to remove illegal immigrants.
He said police, defense and security committees in Kagera, Kigoma and Geita regions have been informed of the government directives.
He stressed that strong legal action will be taken against government officials and executives suspected to have actively assisted illegal immigrants to return to the country.
Commenting on the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) call to the government to prioritise collection of biometric information in the focus regions of operation 'Kimbunga', Nantanga said the idea is good but budget constraints have impeded the entire national identification process.
A journalist Daud Mugalura speaking to this paper directly from Kagera blamed corrupt officials in the operation for the illegal immigrants' return.
Mugalura who is with the team dispatched by LHRC to Kagera, Kigoma, Burundi and Rwanda on a mission to assess the situation after the operation, said some illegal immigrants in Rwanda and Burundi camps were not happy seeing their colleague 'intruders' not being affected by the operation.
He said the majority of illegal immigrants who are financially stable were left in the country during the operation while poor ones were evicted.
"Those in Burundi and Rwanda are also vowing to come back just because some were not taken during the operation," he informed.
He said economic stagnation in Rwanda and Burundi has led the majority of Rwanda and Burundi nationals to flock to Ngara, Karagwe and Kigoma districts searching for jobs.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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