ENTEBBE — The Government has begun a large-scale voluntary repatriation exercise for Ugandans stranded in South Africa, with the first group of 273 returnees arriving safely at Entebbe International Airport aboard a special Uganda Airlines charter flight following weeks of anti-illegal immigration protests and sporadic xenophobic violence.
The flight touched down at about 2:00am on Friday, marking the first phase of an operation expected to bring home more than 1,200 Ugandans who have registered for voluntary evacuation.
The returnees were received by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Haruna Kasolo, alongside Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mr Paul Emoru, who accompanied them on the flight.
Speaking at Entebbe, Mr Kasolo said the Government remained committed to safeguarding Ugandans caught up in the unrest and assured those still in South Africa that the evacuation programme would continue until all those wishing to return had been assisted.
“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,” Mr Kasolo said.
He added that additional Uganda Airlines charter flights had been arranged to transport more Ugandans in the coming days.
Government-funded operation
The repatriation exercise follows a directive by President Yoweri Museveni that all costs related to the evacuation be met by the Government to ensure that Ugandans wishing to leave South Africa can return home safely regardless of their financial circumstances.
The operation is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria and other government agencies.
Officials said several Ugandans seeking assistance had either lost their travel documents or possessed expired passports. To address the challenge, Uganda’s diplomatic mission in South Africa issued emergency travel certificates to facilitate their departure.
Rising concerns
The evacuation comes after anti-illegal immigration protests escalated in parts of South Africa, with demonstrators demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of undocumented foreign nationals.
Although the protests have primarily targeted illegal immigration, the unrest has heightened fears among many foreign nationals, prompting several African governments to facilitate the voluntary return of their citizens.
Uganda joins countries such as Ghana and Nigeria, which have also initiated repatriation programmes for nationals wishing to leave South Africa.
More flights expected
Government figures indicate that while initial requests for assistance came from more than 700 Ugandans, the number of people registering for voluntary repatriation has since risen to approximately 1,200.
Officials say the remaining returnees will be flown back in phases as additional charter flights are deployed over the coming days.
Authorities have urged Ugandans still in South Africa who wish to return home to remain in contact with Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria for guidance on registration, documentation and travel arrangements as the repatriation exercise continues.