By Mukembo Wilfred
Government has revealed that 51 evacuees from Afghanistan arrived in Uganda on Wednesday morning aboard private charted flight.
The latest developments come a day after evacuations in Kabul were temporarily halted due to overcrowding at an evacuee receiving center in Qatar.
According to the statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs, the hosting of Afghan refugees follows a request by US government and subsequent acceptance by Ugandan authorities to temporarily host at-risk Afghan Nationals and other Nationals who are in transit to the United States of America and other destinations.
Uganda says the decision to host those in need is informed by the country’s consistent policy of receiving refugees and persons in distress as well as playing a responsible role in matters of international concern.
The refugees who include men, women and children underwent the necessary security screening as well as mandatory Covid-19 testing and the required quarantine protocols.
Foreign Affairs adds that the arrangements to have Ugandan nationals travel with Afghan refugees were frustrates by challenges of accessing the airport in Kabul. However arrangements are being made to bring Ugandans stranded there in the subsequent flight.
It should be recalled that last week, Esther Anyakun, the state minister for disaster preparedness and refugees said Uganda would accept up to 2,000 Afghan refugees, but the foreign affairs minister Gen. Jeje Odongo said at that time the matter was still under discussion.
