SOROTI, Uganda — Ugandan police have arrested a suspect and confiscated 261 passports and other immigration‑related documents during an intelligence‑led operation in Soroti City, authorities said on Sunday.
The early‑morning raid in Orwadai Cell, Soroti East Division followed intelligence reports of suspicious activity linked to the suspected illegal sale and distribution of travel documents, police said.
According to Ibrahim Saiga, the East Kyoga Regional Police Commander, officers uncovered a large cache of passports along with certificates and yellow fever vaccination cards, all reportedly connected to a broader network involved in the trafficking or unlawful handling of official documentation.
“When we conducted our investigation, we recovered several documents, including certificates and vaccination cards, at the scene in Orwadai Cell,” Saiga said. “We are yet to verify their authenticity with the relevant authorities.”
Saiga confirmed that one individual was arrested during the operation, although his identity has not been released to the media as police pursue other persons believed to be linked to the suspected racket. Another suspect was reported to have fled the scene and is being tracked down.
Police said preliminary investigations are underway to establish the origin of the recovered passports and to determine whether they are genuine or forged.
Authorities are also seeking to identify how the documents were obtained and whether they were intended for illegal sale or misuse.
Security and public vigilance
Saiga urged the public to report suspicious activities related to passports and other official documents, warning that such practices undermine lawful travel procedures and pose risks to individuals who may be defrauded or unwittingly drawn into criminal networks.
The police operation comes amid growing concern over document fraud and immigration irregularities in Uganda.
In recent years, authorities have uncovered cases of passports being held, and in some cases misused, by labour export firms and traffickers, as well as unclaimed passports accumulating at immigration offices.
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Security officials noted that demand for passports has increased nationwide, driven in part by Ugandans’ interest in overseas employment opportunities, a factor that unscrupulous actors have exploited to pitch fraudulent services.
Ugandan law imposes significant penalties for offences involving passport fraud and the unauthorised distribution of travel documents.
Under the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, offences such as passport forgery or unlawful possession of passports can result in fines, imprisonment, or both.
Police said they are working with immigration authorities to verify the documents and will bring all those implicated to justice.
