KAMPALA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan police on Tuesday said it has arrested 82 Rwandan nationals over illegal entry into the country.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi regional police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the 82 were intercepted aboard two cross-border buses along the Kabale-Mbarara Highway in the western part of the country on Monday evening.

Maate said the suspects crossed into Uganda illegally through the porous entry points of Rubaya, Bigaya, Kamwezi, and Bufundi, claiming to be heading to Bunyoro and Kijura tea plantation farms in the western district of Kabarole for casual labor.

"The operation was intelligence led. After screening, 36 women and children were taken by immigration (officials) to process their deportation back to Rwanda as the 46 will appear before courts of law," said Maate.

"Because of their (women) vulnerability, they are breastfeeding mothers and children, they will be deported back to Rwanda."

Maate said they should have used the gazetted border points with relevant travel documents.