Published October 26,2017
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Over 450 Congolese refugees in Uganda are languishing in prisons on "fabricated" charges in Uganda without legal services, a refugees' leader in Uganda said on Thursday.
Kulihoshi Musikami Pecos, a leader of Congolese refugees in Uganda's capital Kampala and an executive director of Foundation People for Peace and Defense of Human Rights, said "corrupt policemen" arrested "innocent Congolese refugees" to extort money from them.
Pecos told Anadolu Agency that the refugees arrested by the Ugandan police so far are 460 and most of them are in Luzira prison.
"They think that all Congolese have gold. After being arrested, Congolese are kept in police cells for several days and those who fail to pay money are taken to court and charged with fabricated cases," he told Anadolu Agency.
He added that although according to Uganda's constitution someone arrested by police must be produced in court in 48 hours, but the policemen keep the Congolese refugees for a long period in cells and demand money from their relatives.
He said currently there are 45,000 Congolese refugees living in Uganda's capital and its surroundings. He said that they all are registered with relevant authorities in Uganda, but they do not get any assistance like food and shelter.
Hassan Kasingye, Uganda's police spokesman, told Anadolu Agency that he is going to investigate the allegations.
"The Congolese should have reported to us about the corrupt policemen. They should contact us so that I get some officers to carry out investigations."
Frank Baine, the Uganda prisons' spokesman, there are 272 Congolese in the prison cells. "Of them 169 are on remand and 103 convicted, while 11 are women," he told Anadolu Agency.
According to Baine, they were arrested for selling fake gold, ivory and impersonation.
