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Government sets deadline for evacuating Ugandans from South Africa
Byamukama revealed that at 9:30pm today, the first batch of Ugandans from South Africa will be touching down on Ugandan soil aboard Uganda Airlines at zero cost.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama (center), said more than 700 Ugandans have so far registered to return home. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)
By: Simon Peter Tumwine, Journalist @New Vision
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The Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, has set Saturday (July 4) as the deadline for repatriating all Ugandans stranded in South Africa.
“As government, we have set up a comprehensive plan that by Saturday this week, we shall have finished evacuating all Ugandans stranded in South Africa,” Byamukama said while addressing the media today (July 2) at the Ministry of Works and Transport offices in Kampala.
Byamukama revealed that at 9:30pm today, the first batch of Ugandans from South Africa will be touching down on Ugandan soil aboard Uganda Airlines at zero cost.
"The Government of Uganda has invested a lot of money to bring back 265 Ugandans plus one person who died during the anti migrant protests in South Africa,” Byamukama said, adding that by Saturday, over 700 Ugandans would have been repatriated.
Byamukama revealed that the repatriation is a government-led voluntary exercise following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni that all costs of the evacuation be fully met by the Ugandan government.
“More than 700 Ugandans have so far registered to return home, and additional flights will be arranged as necessary,” said Byamukama, adding that; "I extend my sincere appreciation to all government agencies, our High Commission in Pretoria, Uganda Airlines, and our community leaders in South Africa for their tireless coordination."
A wave of protests has swept through South Africa's main cities, with protesters demanding that every migrant leaves the country.
There have been mounting fears that the protests could become violent, prompting the deployment of security personnel.
In recent weeks, many foreigners, mostly from other African countries, have left South Africa, some citing intimidation and fear for their lives.
Byamukama revealed that the repatriation is a government-led voluntary exercise following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni that all costs of the evacuation be fully met by the Ugandan government.
“More than 700 Ugandans have so far registered to return home, and additional flights will be arranged as necessary,” said Byamukama, adding that; "I extend my sincere appreciation to all government agencies, our High Commission in Pretoria, Uganda Airlines, and our community leaders in South Africa for their tireless coordination."
A wave of protests has swept through South Africa's main cities, with protesters demanding that every migrant leaves the country.
There have been mounting fears that the protests could become violent, prompting the deployment of security personnel.
In recent weeks, many foreigners, mostly from other African countries, have left South Africa, some citing intimidation and fear for their lives.
Local police said the protests have been mostly peaceful. However, cases of looting have been reported in some locations.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa in Pretoria, Paul Amoru, said they have worked with the South African government to ensure that Ugandan nationals are able to have a safe passage from wherever they are to designated centres handling Ugandans wishing to return home.
He said so far, they have four centres: two in Gauteng, one in Cape Town and another in Durban.
"We have received tremendous support from the South African authorities," said Amoru, adding; "We have had six technical officials from the Department of Home Affairs at our designated centre here in Pretoria, and they will be clearing the entire group of close to 200 Ugandans that so far are in this particular centre.”
Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa in Pretoria, Paul Amoru, said they have worked with the South African government to ensure that Ugandan nationals are able to have a safe passage from wherever they are to designated centres handling Ugandans wishing to return home.
He said so far, they have four centres: two in Gauteng, one in Cape Town and another in Durban.
"We have received tremendous support from the South African authorities," said Amoru, adding; "We have had six technical officials from the Department of Home Affairs at our designated centre here in Pretoria, and they will be clearing the entire group of close to 200 Ugandans that so far are in this particular centre.”