Soroti Operation Deepens as Police Recover 525 Passports, Arrest Three in Expanding Probe

SOROTI CITY — The Uganda Police Force in the East Kyoga region has recovered a total of 525 Ugandan passports in an ongoing crackdown targeting the illegal possession and suspected trafficking of government travel documents.

Police confirmed that an additional 264 passports were recovered in Soroti City on Monday, days after officers seized 261 passports during a Sunday operation in Soroti City East Division.

Three suspects are now in custody. One suspect was arrested during the initial operation, while two others were apprehended following intelligence-led follow-ups linked to the earlier seizure.

Documents Found in Bulk

Investigators say the passports were discovered in bulk under circumstances authorities describe as “highly suspicious.”

Security officials are now working to establish how such a large number of travel documents came into private possession.

Ugandan passports are issued by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and remain property of the Government of Uganda. Unauthorized possession of multiple passports without lawful authority constitutes a criminal offense.

Detectives are currently:Verifying the authenticity of each passportIdentifying and tracing the registered holders

Establishing whether consent was given for the documents to be heldInvestigating possible links to illegal recruitment or trafficking networks

Possible Links to Illegal Recruitment

Security sources say investigators are exploring whether the recovered passports were being assembled for mass processing under fraudulent overseas job schemes.

In recent years, authorities have warned of unlicensed agents collecting passports from job seekers with promises of employment abroad.Police have not yet disclosed the identities of the suspects, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

Regional Security Alert

The scale of the recovery has raised concerns about the existence of an organized network operating within or beyond Soroti.

Authorities have indicated that the investigation may extend to other districts if evidence suggests broader coordination.

Residents have been urged to exercise caution when dealing with travel agents or brokers and to report suspicious activity involving collection of personal documents.

Next StepsPolice say forensic review and background checks are ongoing.

The suspects are expected to face charges once investigations are complete.

Additional arrests have not been ruled out.

Authorities have assured the public that verified passport owners will be contacted accordingly as part of the documentation and return process.

The investigation remains active.