Uganda Evacuates 273 Citizens Amid South Africa Violence

Uganda evacuated 273 citizens from South Africa on a charter flight scheduled to bring home hundreds more seeking voluntary repatriation. This action follows a rise in anti-immigrant protests and xenophobic violence in South Africa.

The evacuation, which marks the first phase of the government's repatriation program, was ordered by President Yoweri Museveni and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Haruna Kasolo serving as the minister. The Ugandan High Commission in South Africa, led by Paul Amoru, received the returnees at Entebbe International Airport in the early hours of Friday.

The Ugandan government has fully funded this voluntary repatriation exercise, with additional charter flights planned as part of the ongoing operation. Approximately 800 Ugandans have registered for the program, although earlier estimates indicated that 1,200 citizens requested assistance.

The Ugandan government stated that the repatriation exercise will continue until all citizens wishing to return home are safely evacuated.