At least 69 Rwandan nationals were on Friday deported after they were arrested in Kabale District. Kabale Police Chief Godfrey Biryomumisho confirmed the deportation during a press briefing in Kabale Town on Friday.

He warned the suspects against entering Uganda without travel documents as required by law. "I want to appeal to the local leaders in the sub-counties bordering Rwanda to be vigilant in identifying and reporting the existence of illegal immigrants in their areas so that the Police can take the necessary measures," Mr Biryomumisho said.

Police said the suspects were aided by Mr Calist Turihohabwe, a Ugandan living in the border sub-county of Butanda in Kabale.

Mr Turihohabwe told Police that he was taking the Rwandan nationals to work as causal labourers in Kyamara Tea Estates in Kabalore District.

"These people have been my employees but they had gone for a break in their home country Rwanda because of the drought." He added: "Now that the dry season is over, I decided to mobilise them again and take them for work."

The Kamuganguzi Sub-county Chairperson, Mr Denis Nzeirwe, attributed the increased number of illegal immigrants to the porous borders. He said cross border intermarriages have also led to increased cases of illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, 10 illegal immigrants were last Wednesday sent to Kisoro Prison for three months after failing to pay a fine of Shs50,000 after they were found guilty of being in Ugandan illegally.