Fear, violence and uncertainty have forced hundreds of Ugandans to abandon their lives in South Africa, with the first group of 265 nationals expected to touch down at Entebbe today aboard a special Uganda Airlines rescue flight. The government-funded evacuation comes after renewed xenophobic attacks swept across parts of South Africa, leaving many foreign nationals […]
Fear, violence and uncertainty have forced hundreds of Ugandans to abandon their lives in South Africa, with the first group of 265 nationals expected to touch down at Entebbe today aboard a special Uganda Airlines rescue flight.
The government-funded evacuation comes after renewed xenophobic attacks swept across parts of South Africa, leaving many foreign nationals living in fear and scrambling for safety.
The returnees are expected to arrive at Entebbe International Airport at around 6:30 p.m., becoming the first beneficiaries of a massive rescue operation ordered by President Museveni. Government is footing the entire evacuation bill.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Amoru, says the Ugandan mission has been racing against time to rescue stranded nationals.
Four emergency holding centres have been established in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, where frightened Ugandans are gathering before boarding charter flights home.
According to Amoru, officials have spent days coordinating with South African authorities to guarantee safe passage for Ugandans travelling from different cities to the evacuation centres.
Nearly 200 evacuees assembled in Pretoria while more than 300 others completed immigration clearance in Johannesburg ahead of departure. Government now hopes to bring home between 800 and 1,000 Ugandans over the next few days as more rescue flights are arranged.
The latest evacuation follows weeks of anti-migrant violence that have shaken foreign communities across South Africa.
Earlier, government announced that more than 700 Ugandans had registered for voluntary repatriation. However, officials now estimate that over 1,000 Ugandans have been affected by the crisis and are seeking help to return home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working with several government agencies and the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, is coordinating the exercise while Uganda Airlines operates the rescue flights.
Government has also confirmed that one Ugandan was killed during the attacks in KwaZulu-Natal Province, with plans underway to return the deceased’s body to Uganda.
As the first plane lands at Entebbe today, hundreds more Ugandans remain on standby, hoping the next flight will finally bring them back home safely.
