The Magistrates Court in Mpigi District has handed down a verdict sentencing 23 Congolese nationals to 10 months of imprisonment for their illegal entry into Uganda.

Presided over by Magistrate Faridah Nabirye, the Mpigi Grade One Court issued its ruling on September 5, also decreeing that the group should be repatriated to their home country upon completion of their 10-month jail term or alternatively by paying a cumulative fine of Shs11.5 million.

Magistrate Nabirye pronounced the sentence, stating, “You are hereby sentenced to ten months in prison or pay a fine of Shs500,000 each, and then be deported back to your country.” Subsequently, the 23 individuals were transferred to Mpigi Government Prison to serve their sentence.

According to court records, the 23 Congolese nationals, which included 20 males, two females, and a toddler, were apprehended in August while wandering in Mpigi District in search of employment opportunities, despite lacking valid work permits.

The convicts had spent 11 days in remand at Mpigi Government Prison following their arrest, which was carried out during a police operation in the townships of Buwama and Mpigi.

While the court’s decision was in line with the legal proceedings, some acquaintances of the accused expressed dissatisfaction with what they deemed a harsh verdict.

Mr. Mathias Agaba, who claims to be a relative of one of the convicts, opined that the court could have exercised leniency, especially since the accused had pleaded guilty to the offense and did not prolong the court proceedings.

He further elaborated that the convicts had fled their war-torn home country, seeking asylum in Uganda due to the ongoing civil conflicts.

“In my view, I think the magistrate could have offered guidance on how to regularize their stay in the country instead of imposing a harsh punishment,” Mr. Agaba remarked.

In recent months, numerous Congolese individuals have crossed into Uganda, primarily driven by the instability and conflict prevailing in their homeland. These border crossings have been observed in various border districts, including Kasese, Kisoro, and Bullisa, signifying the continued humanitarian challenges stemming from the ongoing turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo.