ONC Boss Hajjat Namyalo helps stranded Ugandans return home after recent South Africa visit

President Museveni has facilitated the return of 12 stranded Ugandans from South Africa in a government-led mission spearheaded by SPA Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, the manager of ONC.

Entebbe, Uganda: A group of 12 Ugandans, including mothers with their children, Monday touched down at Entebbe International Airport, marking the first batch of more than 120 nationals to be rescued under a special repatriation mission personally sanctioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The initiative follows Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs (SPA) and Office of the National Chairman (ONC) Manager Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo’s recent visit to South Africa, where she met with hundreds of thousands of Ugandans, among them supporters of opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP).

This first batch of returnees, accompanied by Moses Badru Kibombo Ssentongo, Chairperson of the Confederation of Ugandans living in Southern Africa (COUSA), arrived at the airport at around 10 am aboard RwandaAir, and were welcomed by their families at the waiting lobby.

Speaking to journalists at Entebbe Airport, Hajjat Namyalo expressed gratitude to the President for “listening to the cries of stranded Ugandans, regardless of their political affiliations” and for authorising their safe return.

“This is purely a government effort to ensure the safety and dignity of our people abroad, not a political mobilisation exercise. But I encourage our bazzukulu to make use of the government’s wealth creation programmes like PDM and Emyooga once they settle back home,” she said, pledging to push for an empowerment package from the President to help the returnees start income-generating ventures.

Stories of Survival and Struggle

Some of the returnees, who identified as NUP supporters but spoke on condition of anonymity, hailed Hajjat Namyalo for including them in the rescue despite political differences. “Our party president Bobi Wine visited us once but left us in the same suffering. Hajjat came back with a real solution. We thank her for not segregating against us,” one said.

Another returnee, Teopista Namukwaya, recounted her ordeal of five years in South Africa. Initially employed as a salon hairdresser, she lost her job and became a full-time housewife after meeting a Ugandan man. Financial struggles worsened, leaving her desperate to return home.

“When Hajjat came, she was a God-sent angel. We were drowning in hopelessness. Now that we are home, I appeal to President Museveni to help us start afresh,” she said.

Another returnee, Namukwaya Masitula, who formerly operated a restaurant and grocery store in Pretoria, recounted how her once-thriving business collapsed after what she described as a politically motivated boycott by National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters, who accused her of being pro-Museveni and claimed she might “one day poison them.”

Unemployed for four years, Namukwaya could not afford school fees for her three daughters. “We have endured enough suffering. Back home, we hope to restore dignity and secure a better future for our children,” she said, appealing for start-up capital.

Diaspora Leaders Call for Wider Rescue Effort

COUSA chairperson, Moses Badru Kibombo Ssentongo, lauded President Museveni and Hajjat Namyalo for what he called “a grand rescue mission” and revealed that over 120 Ugandans are currently detained in deportation centres in South Africa.

“Some had overstayed their visas by more than 5, 10, or even 20 years. They stayed illegally, hoping to find work, but the reality has been hardship and poverty,” he said.

He urged that returnees be reintegrated into their communities and supported through government programmes. Kibombo stressed that the initiative was not politically selective, noting that the batch included people of varied political beliefs, including opposition supporters.

“This first group included the sickly, the distressed, and those with children who had no access to medical care or decent jobs because they were foreigners,” he explained.

Logistics and Presidential Backing

Hajjat Namyalo explained that the rescue was coordinated between ONC, COUSA, and the Ugandan embassy in Pretoria to secure travel documents, air tickets, and clearance from South African authorities.

“These 12 were among the most vulnerable, starving, sinking in poverty, and desperate to return home. We thank President Museveni for making this possible,” she said, warning that poor treatment of citizens abroad can fuel resentment towards the government, which is why such interventions are essential.

“We must show our people that Uganda is their home and that we care. As I always say, Settle for the best,” she declared.

The ONC Boss vowed to expand the mission to other countries where Ugandans are stranded, saying, “As long as the President has my back, I will bring our people home.”