State Minister for Foreign Affairs John Mulimba has offered an update on government’s efforts to evacuate Ugandans stranded in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country about two weeks ago.
Yesterday, at least 51 Afghans arrived in Uganda as efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people that have been left stuck in the Asian nation after troops belonging to world super power US and its allies withdrew following two decades of occupation of Afghanistan under the justification of fighting terrorism.
According to the US government, the evacuation of American troops and citizens via Kabul Airport is expected to end by August 31. Available information indicates that over 70,000 people had been evacuated from the Taliban controlled Afghanistan since August 14.
According to Minister Mulimba, who is also the Samia Bugwe North MP, Uganda has welcomed the Afghan evacuees as part of the country’s cordial relationship with the US. “Uganda and the United States of America enjoy long standing cordial bilateral ties which are historic in nature and we continue to pursue common interests for the mutual benefit of both countries,” Mulimba told Parliament on Wednesday. “Our engagement on this matter is testimony to the state of our relations and the attachment that the Government attaches to these relations.”
On Uganda’s plan to evacuate her citizens stranded in Afghanistan, Mulimba noted that Betty Amongi’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) had been contacted to find out whether there were Ugandan nationals externalized to Afghanistan.
The Minister explained that MoGLSD had told the Foreign Affairs Ministry that no Ugandan had remained in Afghanistan for work since all citizens who were in the Asian country had been evacuated at the peak of the Covid19 crisis last year.
Regarding Ugandans who work with the UN and other global agencies, Mulimba noted that these had been evacuated by the United Nations and taken to safer third countries. He further revealed that the Foreign Affairs Ministry had information to the effect that 10 Ugandans had been evacuated on flights to London and are now in a 14-day quarantine after which they will travel to Uganda.
He went on to tell MPs that Kampala, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s contacts, established that two Ugandans were still stuck in Kabul but assured the House “arrangements are being made to repatriate them.”(For comments on this story, call, text or whatsapp us on 0705579994, 0779411734, 0200900416 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).