Over 500 Ugandans Abroad Seek Government Help as Distress Calls Rise

A newly released government report has shed light on the mounting vulnerabilities faced by citizens living and working overseas, revealing that 523 Ugandans reached out for emergency assistance during the 2025/26 financial year.

The findings, contained in the Governance and Security Programme report launched in Kampala on Friday, show that state machinery faced significant pressure responding to distress calls from abroad. Despite recording 523 distress cases, authorities managed to successfully facilitate the repatriation of only 96 individuals.

The report, however, omits specific details regarding the exact nature of these foreign emergencies, the host countries involved, or the underlying challenges that restricted full repatriation to a fraction of the callers. While general consular service delivery fell below set performance targets, the government managed to expand its diaspora engagement initiatives, holding 22 events against an initial target of eight.

These ongoing diaspora interventions were supported by the External Security Organisation (ESO), which closely monitored labor export procedures, recruitment agencies, and immigration movements. The latest figures contrast with larger state evacuations earlier in the year, such as the deployment of chartered Uganda Airlines flights in July to safely return 1,102 citizens fleeing xenophobic violence and security threats in South Africa.

Beyond diaspora affairs, the comprehensive report details broader metrics across national security, civil registration, and judicial administration. Officials noted a decline in the national crime rate, improvements in the police-to-population ratio, and major infrastructure milestones including the completion of the JLOS Tower in Kampala. Nevertheless, the report warns that state agencies remain constrained by modern challenges such as cyber threats, transnational crime, and maritime security demands.

Read more about this report on the Daily Monitor.