As tensions continue to escalate between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel Uganda has launched an emergency operation to evacuate its nationals stranded in the war-torn region.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured the public that it is working “in close coordination with accredited diplomatic missions and various agencies of Government in Iran and Israel” to ensure the safe evacuation of Ugandan citizens affected by the conflict.
The government has particularly focused on Ugandan students and other nationals caught up in the hostilities.
“Using our established evacuation plan under such circumstances, we have registered Ugandan students in Iran and received information on Ugandans stranded in Israel from parents, relatives, and other concerned citizens,” the Ministry stated.
One major success so far is the safe evacuation of 48 Ugandan students from Tehran, Iran’s capital, which has come under heightened alert in recent days.
“We have engaged the relevant authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure the safe passage and evacuation of our nationals from the conflict-affected areas,” Ministry said in a statement.
Recognizing the regional complexity of the situation, Uganda has also reached out to neighboring countries.
“We have communicated to the governments of the countries that border Iran and Israel, namely, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Jordan, to allow Ugandans being evacuated to be accorded gratis visas on arrival,” the statement read.
This move is expected to ease the logistical challenges facing the evacuees and ensure their smooth transit out of the conflict zone.
Ugandan embassies in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have been placed on high alert to provide immediate consular support.
According to the Ministry, “The respective embassies will dispatch officers to receive these evacuees and process their return to Uganda through these neighboring countries.”
Despite the progress made, the evacuation process remains complex and fraught with delays. Both Iran and Israel have shut down their airspace, making direct flights impossible.
“Given the security situation and the dynamics on the ground, there are challenges and delays in securing the appropriate transport for all distressed Ugandans,” the Ministry acknowledged,
The Ministry added that it is doing everything within its means to ensure that all the stranded Ugandan nationals are accorded safe and secure transportation out of the affected areas.
In the meantime, the Ministry urged Ugandans with family in the region or those seeking updates to reach out.
“For any inquiries and information pertaining to the evacuation of the Ugandan nationals in the region, the public is encouraged to contact the Ministry via email: consular@mofa.go.ug.”
On June 13, tensions between Iran and Israel erupted into full-scale warfare, as both nations launched missile and drone attacks on key military and infrastructure targets.
