Foreigners in hawking business face arrest

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The Government says it is working on a mechanism to clamp down on foreigners engaged in petty trade in the country.

Internal affairs ministry spokesperson Simon Mundeyi on Monday, April 8, 2024, said it has come to their attention that the culprits are engaging in mainly hawking kitchen-ware and other related items on hire purchase in several parts of the country including Kampala, Fort Portal, and Mpigi.

He made the revelations on Monday while addressing journalists at the Uganda Police headquarters during the weekly security briefing.   

“Our preliminary investigations show that most are coming from Egypt and they hold you hostage by keeping your national ID,” he said. 

“The worst has come that they have started arresting Ugandans who failed to pay for the product. We urge Ugandans not to hand over their documents to foreigners because it is wrong for you to do so.”

Foreigners who come to Uganda are categorised into groups like business and trade (Class D), manufacturers (Class E), government contractors (Class A2), and government and diplomatic services (Class A).

Records show that there are nine classes, each with requirements that an applicant must present before a work permit is issued.

Mundey said while some of these foreigners are living in the country illegally, others are engaging in activities that don’t tally with their permits, adding that some foreigners who come as manufacturers end up in the hawking business.

He urged residents who see people suspected to be foreigners engaging in illegal trade to call the Police or immigration.

“If you see them selling these items, please take note that we shall arrest these people and arrest those who are buying,” he said.

According to him, foreigners are only allowed to engage in areas where Ugandans don’t have skills.