By Annet Nakanwagi,
KAMPALA
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has launched a plan to rescue and repatriate citizens stranded in the conflict affected Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have stated that they are coordinating closely with accredited diplomatic missions and international partners to assist in this operation and and secure the safety of Ugandans caught in the hostilities.
Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says they have registered some students in Tehran, noting that several interventions to evacuate them to Uganda are underway.
“We have registered Ugandan students in Iran and received reports about those stranded in Israel from concerned families and relatives,” he said.
“So far, 48 Ugandan students have been confirmed for evacuation from Tehran. The ministry is working with Iranian authorities to ensure their safe passage out of conflict zones,” Bagiire added.
Additionally, Uganda has formally engaged the governments of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Jordan, requesting them to issue free (gratis) visas on arrival for the evacuees. The ministry noted that diplomatic communications have also been extended to Ugandan embassies in the region, including those in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to offer consular assistance to the evacuees.
“These embassies will dispatch officers to receive and facilitate the return of Ugandans through neighboring countries,” the ministry said.
However, the evacuation process is facing significant logistical hurdles. Both Iran and Israel have closed their airspace until further notice due to the ongoing hostilities, posing delays in transportation arrangements.
“We acknowledge the challenges, but the ministry is doing everything within its means to ensure safe and secure evacuation for all affected nationals,” Bagiire acknowledged.
The ministry is appealing to the public to provide them with updates and information regarding stranded Ugandans in the volatile Middle East region.
