Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A diplomatic storm is brewing between Kampala and Abuja after Ugandan immigration authorities arrested 62 Nigerian nationals, all members of a Christian missionary group called Life Mission, and allegedly blocked their lawyer from accessing the detention facility for nearly a week, in what rights advocates are calling a serious violation of fundamental legal protections. The arrests took place on April 27, 2026, during coordinated raids in two locations, the Adjumani District in northern Uganda and the Bukoto–Ntinda residential area of the capital, Kampala. According to the Ugandan Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, which announced the operation via its official X account, the enforcement team acted on a tip‑off that the Nigerians were operating a church and engaging in other activities without valid work permits. "Following a tip‑off, our enforcement team has arrested 62 Nigerian nationals operating illegally in Adjumani (without work permits)," the agency stated, adding that the group was being processed for prosecution under the country's immigration laws.
However, the leadership of Life Mission has forcefully rejected those allegations, insisting that the group entered Uganda through legitimate channels and had secured all necessary approvals before commencing their humanitarian work. The organisation's executive director, Michael ChristisKing, disclosed that the missionaries had obtained clearances from multiple Ugandan authorities, including the Office of the Prime Minister, the Commissioner for Refugees, and the Born Again Fellowship of Uganda. He said the group was engaged in a long‑running cross‑cultural outreach programme focused on humanitarian service, particularly among refugee communities. He added that the group had followed due process before entering the country.
What has escalated the incident from a routine immigration enforcement matter into a full‑blown diplomatic controversy is the allegation that the detainees have been denied access to legal representation. A Ugandan lawyer, Israel Mivule, who was contracted by the missionary group, told Stone Reporters News that when he arrived at the detention facility in Namawme, a large compound surrounded by a high fence, he was refused entry by the officers on duty. The incident occurred on Friday, May 1, just four days after the arrests. "I arrived at the detention facility in Namawme, a large compound with a high fence and a locked gate," Mivule recounted. "After introducing myself as a lawyer acting on instructions, I was refused access and directed to return to Kampala to obtain permission from senior officials." He said he pleaded with the officer to allow at least a one‑on‑one meeting with any of the 62 detainees to assess their well‑being, a request his law officers declined. "The officer said granting such access could jeopardise his job," Mivule told Stone Reporters News.
From his position outside the gate, Mivule said he could see the detainees moving about within the facility, but they appeared to be completely cut off from any means of communication with the outside world. "They had no access to mobile phones or any communication devices," he observed. "Preventing them from contacting their lawyers or even their families infringes on their fundamental freedoms." The lawyer emphasised that the denial of access constitutes a clear violation of Uganda's constitutional provisions. Under Articles 50 and 51 of the Ugandan Constitution, detainees have the right to legal representation and a fair hearing at any time. Mivule also noted that some Ugandan officials responsible for overseeing missionary activities were themselves unaware of the arrests. "One of the leaders responsible for overseeing missionary activities was unaware of their detention and expressed shock when I informed him. He acknowledged that urgent steps should be taken to resolve the situation," Mivule said.
Stone Reporters News has learned that the missionary group first arrived in Uganda on August 12, 2025, as part of a larger contingent of 107 individuals. According to the North West Nile Regional Police spokesperson, Collins Asea, 43 of that initial group voluntarily returned to Nigeria earlier this year, while 64 remained in the country. Of those 64, 62 were arrested in the April 27 operation. The group was residing under the care of Bishop Cosmas of Victory Life Church and at the Pentecostal Assembly of God Church in Adjumani Town Council. Authorities noted that the individuals had been conducting door‑to‑door preaching within the town and in refugee settlements, activities that, under Ugandan regulations, require strict coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister when conducted in sensitive areas. The group had been issued tourist visas, which were renewed twice, first in November 2025 and again on March 28, 2026, before the enforcement action was triggered.
The Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs has taken a hardline stance. The ministry's spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi, told reporters that the suspects were found running a church and other businesses without valid documentation, and that preliminary investigations revealed conflicting accounts among the detainees. "Some claimed they were lured into Uganda with false job promises, while others are suspected to be involved in online fraud and related offences," Mundeyi stated. He added that those found culpable could face prosecution, deportation, fines, or possible blacklisting from re‑entering Uganda. The group is currently being held at the ministry's Namanve facility, where they are undergoing legal processing.
However, Mivule insists that the missionary group had the proper documentation to be in the country. He disclosed that there is documented evidence showing that the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda had earlier recognised the group's operations. Stone Reporters News has seen a letter dated August 15, 2025, addressed to the Nigerian High Commission in Kampala, in which the fellowship described the organisation, identified as Exalting Jesus Life Missions, as a known non‑profit body permitted to carry out missionary work, particularly among refugees. The letter was signed by the fellowship's general secretary, Bishop Dr. Africano Magyezi. It stated that the group had been active in Uganda since 2023 and had approval to bring volunteers for humanitarian work.
The Nigerian government has been slow to respond. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission did not return calls or messages seeking comment on the matter as of Monday. The Nigerian embassy in Kampala has reportedly held discussions with Ugandan authorities regarding possible waivers and intervention by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but no breakthrough has been announced. Mivule said there were initial discussions about payments and possible waivers, but if the Nigerian embassy does not act promptly, he will formally write to the ministry and escalate the matter to court to obtain an order for the immediate release of the detainees. "If nothing is done urgently, we will escalate the matter to court to secure their release," he declared.
The arrests of the 62 Nigerians were part of a larger crackdown on irregular migration in Uganda. In a separate operation on April 27, authorities also arrested 169 other foreign nationals, including 36 women, in a Bukoto apartment for lacking valid immigration documentation. That group reportedly comprised individuals from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The Ugandan government has warned landlords to exercise caution when renting to non‑citizens and has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing immigration laws. Mundeyi said similar intelligence‑led operations have led to the arrest of more than 230 foreign nationals across the country in recent months. "Uganda remains open, but compliance with immigration laws is mandatory," he concluded.
As the deadline for court action approaches, the 62 Nigerians remain in detention, their legal fate uncertain. Mivule said he plans to revisit the Ministry of Internal Affairs and, failing that, will proceed to court. The Nigerian High Commission in Kampala has not issued a public statement on the matter. For now, the group's lawyer is the only voice speaking for them from outside the locked gate.
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