Ambassador Deng calls for compliance with immigration regulations

The Embassy of South Sudan in Uganda has issued a statement clarifying that none of their nationals were kidnapped, as earlier alleged by some members of the community. The clarification comes in response to an incident on 2nd February 2024 when 15 South Sudanese nationals, along with individuals of other nationalities, were detained by immigration authorities due to legal status issues.

Winnie Alfadhil, a Petroleum Engineering student at the International University of East Africa (IUEA), recounted the incident, stating that they were at Azmarino gym in Kansanga when immigration officers, accompanied by police, approached them. The officers requested identification, and despite presenting their IDs, those without passports were taken to Kabalagala police station and subsequently handed over to the Immigration at the Internal Affairs Ministry for detention.

South Sudan Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Simon Juach Deng, noted during a press briefing that the incident was not a kidnapping but a routine police operation to verify the immigration status of foreigners. He assured that the lives of South Sudanese in Uganda are not at risk and encouraged them to live normal lives.

Ambassador Deng commended the Ugandan government, particularly the Ministry of Internal Affairs and immigration leadership, for their cooperation in releasing the detained South Sudanese nationals upon verification of their legal documents. He also urged the government to inform the embassy in future operations involving the arrest of South Sudanese nationals.

By press time, 14 nationals had been released, while one remained in detention pending document verification. Ambassador Deng advised South Sudanese residents to carry their legal documents at all times and comply with immigration regulations. He clarified that having a visa-free agreement with Uganda does not permit overstaying beyond 90 days, emphasizing the need to seek extensions for a valid and legal stay.

The ambassador encouraged South Sudanese facing any issues to visit the embassy offices for assistance and reiterated the importance of understanding and abiding by immigration regulations to avoid complications in the future.