Sixty-two Nigerians arrested in Uganda over alleged illegal missionary activities have regained their freedom and are expected to return home on Thursday.
The Nigerians, said to be members of a Christian outreach organisation known as Life Mission, were earlier detained by Ugandan immigration authorities over allegations of operating churches without proper authorisation.
Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control had announced the arrests in a statement posted on its X handle on April 29, stating that the operation was carried out in Adjumani and parts of Kampala.
However, the Executive Director of the group, Michael ChristisKing, maintained that the missionaries were involved in humanitarian and evangelical activities aimed at supporting refugees and vulnerable communities in Uganda.
Speaking on Wednesday, ChristisKing disclosed that the charges against the missionaries had been withdrawn, clearing the way for their release and return to Nigeria.
“The 62 Nigerian missionaries are expected back in Nigeria on Thursday. Their release followed the withdrawal of the charges against them, while their return tickets have been rescheduled,” he said.
He further explained that Ugandan authorities had also cancelled the financial penalties earlier imposed on the detainees.
The missionaries had initially been directed to pay $400 each as penalties alongside an additional $100 for flight rescheduling.
“The penalty has been cancelled. They are only paying for the adjustment of their flight schedules. This is not deportation because the tickets were merely rescheduled,” he added.
The mission leadership insisted that the organisation complied with the required procedures before embarking on the trip to Uganda.
According to the group, approvals were obtained from the Ugandan Office of the Prime Minister, the Commissioner for Refugees and the Born Again Fellowship of Uganda before the outreach activities commenced.
Documents obtained by journalists also reportedly showed that the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda had formally acknowledged the activities of the organisation before the arrests.
In a letter dated August 15, 2025, and addressed to the Nigerian High Commission in Kampala, the fellowship described the organisation, identified as Exalting Jesus Life Missions, as a recognised non-profit body involved in missionary activities among refugees.
The letter, signed by the fellowship’s General Secretary, Bishop Dr Africano Magyezi, stated that the mission had been operating in Uganda since 2023 and was preparing to host more than 100 Nigerian missionaries and Ugandan volunteers for outreach programmes.
The development comes days after concerns were raised over the welfare and health condition of some of the detained Nigerians following reports of illness within the detention facility.
