By KT Reporter
The Directorate of Immigration and Citizenship Control has finally deported Dr. Kymmberli Stowe, the embattled former principal of Heritage International School. The American national was recently fired by the school, days before her detention by immigration authorities.
Dr. Kymmberli Stowe, who had been contesting her dismissal as principal of Heritage International School in Kansanga, Kampala, was arrested and detained for at least three days by immigration officials as authorities probed the legality of her stay in Uganda. Stowe’s arrest occurred just hours after a meeting with the Commissioner of Labour, which she attended together with her legal team.
The meeting was part of her ongoing efforts to petition various government offices, including the Ministries of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and Education, over her disputed dismissal and allegations of mistreatment by Heritage International School. According to reports, after the inconclusive meeting, Dr. Stowe returned to her residence in Kansanga, where she was allegedly picked up by immigration security personnel and detained at the immigration holding facility from Thursday last week.
The circumstances surrounding her arrest have drawn criticism from human rights defenders in Uganda and abroad, who have raised concerns about alleged human rights violations and corruption within the immigration department. Critics cite claims that she was forcibly arrested while undressed and denied access to her lawyers.
Over the weekend, it emerged that Dr. Stowe’s visa and work permit had been cancelled in the immigration system. Her lawyers argue that this was an attempt to portray her as an illegal resident. Dr. Stowe had earlier accused immigration officials of colluding with the school administration to have her deported and prevent her from pursuing justice.
Victor Asiimwe, Dr. Stowe’s lawyer, said they were preparing to pursue legal action against the immigration authorities, citing multiple alleged illegalities, including the manner of enforcement and arrest, procedural flaws in decision-making, the conditions of detention, and violations of her fundamental human rights.
However, Asiimwe told Uganda Radio Network that on Monday, Dr. Stowe was escorted by immigration officials from the detention facility to her residence in Kansanga, where she was ordered to pick up a few belongings, including her passport, before being driven to Entebbe International Airport under tight security.
“Dr. Kymmberli was escorted to Entebbe International Airport by immigration officials last evening. According to our understanding, she was scheduled to depart on an 8:00 p.m. flight. Attempts to take photos were thwarted by security personnel who confiscated my phone. So I can confirm that she was indeed deported,” Asiimwe said.
He noted that discussions are ongoing with the school’s lawyers to secure Dr. Stowe’s certificate of service and air ticket. However, the school’s legal team reportedly indicated that these documents would only be released when the school reopens.
In petitions submitted to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Dr. Stowe claimed that her dismissal was retaliatory, alleging it followed her raising concerns about school governance, rejecting alleged unwanted advances from some school administrators, and exposing alleged corruption at the institution.
However, in October 2025, Heritage International School stated that Dr. Kymmberli was dismissed for allegedly failing to disclose a legal dispute with her former employer, the American School of Benguerir in Morocco. The school also claimed that she falsely presented herself as having served as acting head of school, when she was allegedly on leave.
The Directorate of Immigration had not issued an official statement regarding Dr. Stowe’s arrest and deportation by the time of filing this story. The Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Simon Mundeyi, was unavailable for comment.
However, a senior official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs disclosed that the deportation followed communication with the American Embassy, which reportedly resulted in an agreement. According to the official, an organised departure document was signed, allowing Dr. Stowe to return to Uganda in the future to pursue her case.
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