Mugerwa went to ‘Bulaya’ on a study visa for one year. After being there for his study year, he found it impossible to give up the ‘good life’ he had become accustomed to and decided to hide and remain there indefinitely. After 9 years, he was caught by the police and taken to prison awaiting deportation. When told that he had to return to Uganda, he told them that he would accept deportation but not to Uganda, but to a different country. His friend Kaye who was talking to him about it was left wondering if Mugerwa could just choose where he would be deported to.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?
Deportation is where the government of a country expels a person from its borders, this can be because the person is in the country unlawfully (such as when their passport or visa is expired), or if they have committed a crime within the country. Every country has different laws about deportation. Some countries will only deport you to the country you are from while others will put you outside the borders of their countries and ‘you sort yourself’
In Uganda, the law that deals with deportation is called the The Uganda Citizenship and Immigrations Control Act. This law says that if a deportation order has been made against a person, that person must be deported to the country they came from or any other country that is willing to receive them.
So, in this case, if Mugerwa (was not a Ugandan), and had to be deported from Uganda, he would have to be deported to his country of origin or he could choose another country that is willing and has given him permission to enter it. This can be another country where he has citizenship or that is willing to shelter him for different reasons such as political asylum.
By the way, did you know that a Ugandan cannot be deported from Uganda?
Credit: Photo by World Atlas
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