On Monday morning, a group of 12 Ugandans including mothers and their children arrived safely at Entebbe International Airport, marking the initial wave of a larger repatriation effort that will see over 120 nationals brought home.
This special mission was personally authorized by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The repatriation follows a recent trip by Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, who visited South Africa to engage with thousands of Ugandans living there, among them supporters of various political parties, including the National Unity Platform (NUP).
The first batch of returnees touched down around 10 a.m. aboard a RwandaAir flight. Accompanied by Moses Badru Kibombo Ssentongo, Chairperson of the Confederation of Ugandans living in Southern Africa (COUSA), they were warmly received by their families waiting at the airport’s arrivals lobby.
Addressing journalists at Entebbe Airport, Hajjat Namyalo thanked the President for his responsiveness to the concerns of Ugandans stranded abroad.
“This is purely a government effort to ensure the safety and dignity of our people abroad, not a political mobilisation exercise. But I encourage our bazzukulu to make use of the government’s wealth creation programmes like PDM and Emyooga once they settle back home,” she said.
She further pledged to advocate for an empowerment package from the President aimed at helping the returnees establish income-generating ventures upon their reintegration into Ugandan society.
This repatriation initiative underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens, regardless of political background, and supporting their economic empowerment as they transition back home.