KAGERA: The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. George Simbachawene has encouraged cooperation among government officials present at the Mutukula Joint Customs Center located in Misenyi district in Kagera region, which is the border between Tanzania and Uganda, while urging them to focus on security and revenue collection issues for the development of the country where the need for security and revenue is important for the country to grow economically.
He said, during a visit to inspect various customs activities at the center accompanied by the Kagera Regional Security and Defense Committee, where earlier when he arrived in the region he received a report on the security and security situation from the Kagera Regional Commissioner, Hajjat ​​Fatma Mwassa, a report that showed the existence of uncertainty in various areas of the region, including the number of loopholes used by illegal immigrants and people who may enter the country with malicious intent to disrupt the existing peace.
“First is the security of our country, everyone here, the number one thing is the security of our country, but the second is revenue collection so that the country can continue to need money to implement development projects that have been promised to the people and the money to develop these projects is available at collection points. One of the important areas is the borders, this Mutukula border between Tanzania and Uganda is a place where we believe that if collections are done well, it will help to replenish the government fund to be able to achieve projects that serve the people including health services, infrastructure such as roads, schools and agriculture”, He said, Mr. Simbachawene
Speaking during the visit, the Director of the Mtukula Immigration Center, Senior Immigration Inspector, Mrs. Sarah Ngonyani said they are continuing with immigration services including protecting the border in parallel with arresting illegal immigrants who enter the country through various openings in the villages of Kanyigo and Minziro while the Tanzania Revenue Authority Officer, Mr. Edmund Lubinza revealing the monthly income they earn of approximately 9 billion per month.
“From January to November, 2025, a total of 44,486 foreigners entered the country and 24,730 foreigners left, which led to the collection of 158,680 dollars through visa payments, but we have also been educating the community on illegal immigration issues and, as you know, we immigration have a special campaign called ‘KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR’ which we have been continuing with in collaboration with the public to identify or identify illegal immigrants”, said Mrs. Sarah
“During the period from July to November, the center was set a target of collecting 29 billion but it managed to collect 27 billion, which is an efficiency of 95%, with this success being due to the cooperation of institutions present here at the Mutukula Center”, said Mrs. Sarah
The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. George Simbachawene, speaking to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Officer, Edmund Lubinza (right), at the offices of the Mutukula Joint Customs Centre, in Misenyi District, Kagera Region, which is the border between Tanzania and Uganda. On the left is the Mtukula Immigration Centre Officer, Senior Immigration Inspector, Sarah Ngonyani. (Photo by Ministry of Home Affairs).
