ENTEBBE
Tears of relief, warm embraces and sighs of gratitude filled Entebbe International Airport as another 166 Ugandans evacuated from South Africa touched down Uganda’s soil safely, escaping the wave of anti-migrant violence that has rocked parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
The latest group, flown in from Durban, is the fourth batch of evacuees, bringing the total number of Ugandans rescued by the government to 726 since the emergency operation began.
Receiving the returnees, Ambassador Dickson Ogwang Okul assured Ugandans that the government will not stop until every citizen stranded by the crisis is safely brought home.
“We are fully in charge, and we will continue to execute this emergency operation successfully until the very end. We shall leave no Ugandan diaspora stranded, in distress, or abandoned in danger,” he declared.
Ambassador Ogwang praised President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Office of the Prime Minister and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for spearheading what he described as a determined national rescue mission.
He also hailed the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Special Forces Command (SFC), the Uganda Police Force and airport officials, saying the successful operation demonstrated the strength of government coordination during a crisis.
“This is a true display of inter-agency collaboration at its finest, where diplomacy needs defence to protect citizens on the frontline,” he said.
The emergency evacuation followed growing fears among Ugandans living in South Africa after anti-foreigner attacks escalated and vigilante groups reportedly issued threats targeting migrants. The killing of a Ugandan in KwaZulu-Natal heightened fears and accelerated the government’s rescue operation.
Upon arrival, the evacuees were transported to the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, where they will receive psychosocial support, counselling, ideological orientation and guidance to help them rebuild their lives.
Government officials also urged the returnees to embrace wealth-creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) as they begin a new chapter back home.
With 726 Ugandans already rescued, officials say the evacuation mission is far from over, insisting that every Ugandan who wants to return home will be assisted.
For hundreds who fled fear and uncertainty, stepping onto Ugandan soil marked more than just the end of a journey—it was the beginning of hope
