Five Pakistanis arrested in Uganda

Five Pakistanis arrested in Uganda

By Hope Mafaranga June 18, 2012

In Ntoroko

Security operatives in Ntoroko district have arrested one Congolese national and five Pakistanis for entering the country without travel documents. 

The six were arrested on Wednesday night at Ntoroko landing site, while crossing into the country on a boat.

Wilson Kwanya, the Western Regional Police Commander, identified the Congolese national as Musa Ismael Tembo. Kwanya, however, refused to disclose the names of the Pakistan nationals, citing security reasons. 

According to Kwanya, the six are said to have travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Mpondwe border in Kasese district and then from Congo, they proceeded to Ntoroko landing site in Ntoroko district. 

The men were arrested after security operatives attached to Kanara landing site, became suspicious when the six were told to identify themselves, but they refused. When they were searched, they didn’t have any identification documents.

The men were in possession of bags, but Kwanya declined to reveal what was in the bags.

Kwanya says that when they were interrogated in Ntoroko, the men said that they were on a mission to spread Islam in the country. 

They were then transferred to Fort Portal police station, where they were again interrogated by Kwanya and other police detectives.

The six men were then taken to Kampala on Thursday evening under tight security, for more investigations to be carried out.

The arrest comes at a time Uganda is on high alert after the Inspector General of Police; Kale Kayihura revealed that several suspected al-shabab militants had entered the country through Kenya. 

 Al-Shabaab militants have been threatening the East African region, in revenge of sending troops to Somalia.

In July 2010, more than 70 people were killed when explosions ripped through Kyaddondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Restaurant in Kampala as revelers watched a 2010World Cup final match. Al Shabaab militias claimed responsibility for the attacks to avenge Uganda’s involvement in Somalia, where more than 5000 soldiers are deployed.

Kenya has been attacked on at least four different times since sending its troops to Somalia in October last year.

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