Deported MTN Chief Executive Officer Wim Joris Vanhellepute has taken the Attorney General to Court seeking orders to quash his deportation following an order issued by the Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo on the 14th February 2019.
In his affidavit, Mr Vanhelleputte says he is entitled to fair and just treatment and due process before an administrative body and/or any person, and also has a right to be heard.
“The applicant has never committed any offence or criminal act under the laws of Uganda and neither is he responsible for breaking any law. That there’s no lawful reason whatsoever for his deportation. That it is in the interest of justice that his deportation be quashed,” the affidavit reads in part.
According to Mr Vanhelleputte, the said order labelled him as an undesirable and prohibited immigrant yet he has been a law abiding citizen and has no trace of a criminal record for the 25 years he has lived in Uganda.
Mr Vanhelleputte further contends that he has been a regular visitor to Uganda since 1993.
He further avers that he has been married to Babra Adoso Vanhelleputte, a Ugandan citizen since April 29, 2000.
“Our marriage was celebrated both in Uganda and Belgium. That I and my wife have two children namely Vanhelleputte Jonathan aged 17 and Vanhelleputte Jason 13,” reads his affidavit.
Mr Vanhellepute claims he was neither given an opportunity to explain himself to Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo before signing the Order that declared him unwanted in Uganda nor communicate to his Ugandan wife; Ms Barbara Adoso and two children.
He also wants court to intervene and recall his unlawful deportation because he had a valid work permit and a running Visa which was due to expire in May this year .
Court is yet to allocate his case file to a judge for hearing.
According to documents from the Ugandan Citizenship and Immigration department, Wim is no longer wanted in Uganda.
“Wim Vanhelleputte has been declared an undesirable immigrant by virtue of section 52(g) of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act and has become a prohibited immigrant,” reads in part the deportation order signed by the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen.Jeje Odongo on February 14, 2019.
According to the deportation order, Wim is barred from returning to Uganda until further instructions from government.
