Uganda to Boost Repatriation Efforts for Stranded Citizens Abroad

The Ugandan government is stepping up its commitment to repatriate its citizens who find themselves stranded in foreign countries, particularly in Thailand and South Africa.

In Thailand, efforts to bring back Ugandans are encountering a significant obstacle: the lack of formal bilateral agreements between the two nations. Hon. Esther Anyakun, the Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, disclosed that while the government, in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior of Thailand and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has been working to reunite these individuals with their families, many still remain unaccounted for.

This situation came to light following concerns raised by Soroti City Woman Representative, Hon. Joan Alobo, about three Ugandans who traveled to Thailand via a recruitment agency and subsequently lost contact. Their families reported their plight, including suspected imprisonment, to the Criminal Investigations Unit, prompting calls for the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to provide an update on government actions.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, has urged the government to accelerate the repatriation of Ugandans from South Africa. This call follows heightened anti-immigrant sentiments and protests in South Africa, which have left many Ugandans in precarious situations. Hon. Ssenyonyi expressed the need for clarity on diplomatic relations and government strategies to address the safety of Ugandans in the neighboring country.

To date, the government, under the directive of President Yoweri Museveni and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has successfully repatriated 730 Ugandans from South Africa. These individuals have undergone a rehabilitation program at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi. The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, announced that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will present a detailed statement to Parliament on this matter.

Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4477/govt-step-efforts-repatriate-ugandans