The 25 Chinese Nationals were among the employees of China Communications Construction Company who were currently working on the Soroti-Moroto Road. Ma Zhang one of the administrators of China Communications Construction Company defended his team saying they had work permits but they had just left them in Kampala for fears of losing them. To him, the arrest was due to lack of information sharing between the Immigration office and local authorities. “we are a big family, so we get each one working permission then they come from China, but right now, we have already applied to Immigration but still processing for those who didn’t have but most of them they have already got a card like this.” Said Ma Zhang, Project Manager CCCC Soroti.

Efforts to get a comment from the Immigration office were futile as officers at the scene declined to comment on the matter. The regional spokesperson Michael Odongo also declined to comment saying the Immigration Law officers would sort out the issue. The road runs from Teso College which is approximately 6km from Soroti town. The route covers a total length of approximately 100km and forms an important link in the National Road Network and contributes significantly to the economic prosperity of Northern Uganda