Kampala City, Uganda: Uganda’s first chartered evacuation flight to repatriate citizens stranded in South Africa is expected to depart today, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo has announced, as the number of Ugandans seeking government-assisted return has risen to nearly 1,200.
Speaking to journalists at his office in Kampala on Tuesday, Kasolo said the government had made significant progress in preparing the evacuation despite delays caused by documentation challenges affecting some Ugandans.
“We are making very good progress. Like I did mention, we had to undergo certain processes because some of our Ugandan nationals didn’t have proper documents. Others’ documents had expired. So we needed to actually undergo certain processes,” Kasolo said.
The Minister revealed that registrations for voluntary repatriation had increased sharply since the government first announced the exercise.
“So far, when I last made a brief, actually, we had registered around 700 Ugandans voluntarily. But as I speak today, the numbers increased to almost 1,200.”
He assured all Ugandans who wish to return home that the government is prepared to facilitate their evacuation regardless of the final number.
Kasolo said the first chartered aircraft was expected to leave South Africa later on Tuesday night to begin transporting the first group of returnees. “Our first chartered plane will actually leave this evening… and we are ready. We are more than ready.”
He commended Uganda’s diplomatic mission in Pretoria and the Ugandan community in South Africa for working closely with the government to identify and register citizens willing to return home.
“I want to thank our Ambassador in South Africa for working hard, and also the Ugandan community in South Africa. They are working together to ensure that the Ugandans that are willing to come back are repatriated.”
Kasolo also confirmed that the evacuation exercise will be fully funded by the Government of Uganda, with no charges imposed on those returning.
“We are not going to charge any money. So we are going to bring them back home, and we shall be informing the general public about those that will be in the first batch.”
The Minister, however, did not disclose the number of evacuees expected on the inaugural flight or when they are scheduled to arrive in Uganda.
President Museveni over the weekend directed the government to immediately evacuate Ugandan nationals affected by the violence in South Africa.
Following the directive, the Ministry of Works and Transport arranged for Uganda Airlines to operate special charter flights to repatriate the evacuees, with the entire operation fully funded by the government.
The evacuation follows escalating xenophobic attacks in KwaZulu-Natal Province, where foreign nationals have reportedly been targeted by vigilante groups.
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