By Spy Uganda
The Government of Uganda has launched a major voluntary evacuation programme for its citizens in South Africa, with the first group of 273 Ugandans arriving safely at Entebbe International Airport early Friday following recent anti-illegal immigration protests and xenophobic violence in parts of the country.
The returnees landed aboard a special Uganda Airlines charter flight at 2:00 a.m. and were received by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Haruna Kasolo, together with Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Paul Emoru, who accompanied them on the flight.
The arrival marks the first phase of a wider government repatriation exercise expected to bring home more than 1,200 Ugandans who have registered for voluntary return.
Speaking at Entebbe, Kasolo described the operation as a significant step in protecting Ugandan nationals affected by the unrest and assured those still in South Africa that the evacuation effort would continue.
“I commend our Embassy in South Africa, together with all the government agencies and partners involved, for their dedication, professionalism and coordinated efforts in making this operation possible,” Kasolo said.
He said additional Uganda Airlines charter flights would be deployed in the coming days to transport more citizens who have opted to return home.
The evacuation follows a directive by President Yoweri Museveni ordering that all costs associated with the repatriation be fully covered by the Government to ensure the safe return of Ugandans wishing to leave South Africa.
The operation is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ugandan High Commission in South Africa and other government agencies.
Officials said many Ugandans seeking evacuation lacked valid travel documents or were holding expired passports, prompting Uganda’s mission in Pretoria to issue emergency travel certificates to facilitate their return.
The repatriation programme was launched after anti-illegal immigration protests intensified in several parts of South Africa, with demonstrators calling for tougher enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of undocumented foreign nationals. The unrest heightened concerns among foreign residents, prompting several African governments to organise voluntary evacuation programmes for their citizens.
Uganda is among a number of African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, that have offered voluntary repatriation to nationals wishing to leave South Africa.
Government figures show that while initial estimates indicated more than 700 Ugandans had sought assistance, registrations for the voluntary repatriation programme have since risen to about 1,200, with further charter flights expected to continue the operation.
