Ugandans evacuated from Iran safe in Istanbul — Govt

ISTANBUL - A total of 45 Ugandans evacuated from war-torn Iran on Friday checked into the All Seasons Hotel in Istanbul.

The group, the majority of whom are students scheduled to fly back home aboard a chartered flight to Entebbe, was secured by the Uganda government.

The group, most of whom were from Ahlul Bayt International University and one from Allameh Tabataba’i University, were mobilised by Isaac Nimwesiga, a student leader who contacted the Charge D’ Affaires Ambassador Twaha Matata and Vicent Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alerting them of the need to be evacuated.

While in Tehran, the group was picked up aboard buses secured by the Ugandan Embassy, and they travelled for 917km from Southern Tehran to Bazargan.

A media release issued by the foreign affairs ministry on Friday states that a group of 42 students who were accompanied by three Ugandan diplomatic staff on the journey, travelled 20 hours from Tehran to the Bazargan-Gurbulak border, where they were received by Julius Malinga, Second Secretary and Zainah Nabirye, Administrative Attache.

On the Turkish side, the group were received by Mubarak Daka from the Uganda Embassy in Ankara, who accompanied the group on the 22-hour road trip from Gurbuluk to Istanbul. 

There were no reported injuries or illnesses.

The group on Friday interacted with a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Permanent Secretary, Vincent  Bagiire and Ambassador of Uganda to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu and the Tehran Embassy team.

Tiperu assured them of a comfortable transit stay in Istanbul as preparations were made for their final trip to Uganda. The Government will meet the cost of their hotel stay and meals during the period that they await the completion of air travel arrangements.

Bagiire informed the group that President Yoweri Museveni had expressed deep concern for their safe evacuation and had instructed the Government to facilitate their immediate travel to Uganda.

He called on those who had chosen to voluntarily remain in Tehran, to reconsider their decision while the Government was still in a position to make useful interventions. 

“Safety of all Ugandan citizens abroad is of paramount importance and core to the work of the ministry. Our work is to promote and protect Uganda’s interests abroad, and those interests include our citizens,” Bagiire added.

The foreign affairs ministry reports that the number of Ugandans known to be in Iran is 150 out of whom 125 are students.

With the 42  en route to Entebbe, another  65 students remain in Iran. 

“Those who have remained in Iran have voluntarily chosen to stay behind,” the ministry release has revealed. 

Government says that as the world carefully monitors developments between Israel and Iran, Uganda’s Embassy in Tehran has set up an emergency evacuation coordination centre.

Persons  with information on Ugandans still trapped in the Islamic Republic of Iran should contact the following officials at the embassy; 

1. Ambassador Twaha Matata +256772594096

2. Mr. Edule Oscar, Minister Counsellor +256702020277

3. Mr. Julius Malinga, Second Secretary +256782572879

The embassy team can also be contacted via Email: tehran@mofa.go.ug