Fresh concerns have surfaced over the continued detention of 62 Nigerians in Uganda, with authorities reportedly denying them access to legal representation.
The development was disclosed by a Ugandan lawyer, Israel Mivule, who spoke on Sunday after he was allegedly prevented from meeting the detainees at a detention facility.
The Nigerians, believed to be members of a Christian missionary group known as Life Mission, were arrested by immigration officials over claims of illegally operating churches.
Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control had earlier confirmed the arrests in a statement shared on its X handle, noting that the operation took place on April 27, 2026, in Adjumani and the Bukoto–Ntinda area of Kampala.
Mivule said he visited the detention facility in Namawme on Friday but was denied entry despite identifying himself as legal counsel to the group.
“I introduced myself as a lawyer acting on instruction, but I was refused access and asked to obtain permission from senior officials in Kampala,” he said.
He added, “I even requested a brief one-on-one interaction with any of the detainees to assess their condition, but the officer declined, saying it could cost him his job.”
The lawyer described the action as a violation of the detainees’ fundamental rights, stressing that access to legal representation is guaranteed under Ugandan law.
“Detainees have the right to legal representation and a fair hearing. Denying them access to their lawyers contravenes constitutional provisions,” he said.
Mivule further noted that although he could see the detainees within the facility from a distance, they appeared cut off from communication with the outside world.
“From where I stood, I could observe them moving around, but they had no access to phones or any means of contacting their lawyers or family members,” he added.
He disclosed that he eventually left the premises after spending several hours without being granted access.
According to him, efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the Nigerians, with legal options being considered should diplomatic channels fail.
“There have been engagements with the Nigerian embassy, including discussions on possible waivers, but if nothing is done promptly, we will escalate the matter to court to seek their release,” he said.
The lawyer also revealed that officials responsible for supervising missionary activities in Uganda were unaware of the arrests and expressed surprise when informed.
Meanwhile, a document obtained by our correspondent showed that the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda had earlier recognised the mission’s operations in the country.
In a letter dated August 15, 2025, and addressed to the Nigerian High Commission in Kampala, the fellowship confirmed that the group, identified as Exalting Jesus Life Missions, had been active in Uganda since 2023.
The letter, signed by the General Secretary, Bishop Dr Africano Magyezi, described the organisation as a non-profit body permitted to bring volunteer students into the country for missionary work, particularly among refugees.
It added that the group had been involved in humanitarian and community development efforts and urged relevant authorities to support its activities.
Efforts to get a response from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to its spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, were not returned as of the time of filing this report.
