Government has confirmed arrangements to fly home Ugandans trapped in USA, Europe and Asia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa, appeared before plenary to present a statement to the House on Government plans to evacuate Ugandan citizens stranded overseas as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kutesa says that Government has taken the decision to allow Ugandans who have been stranded abroad due to the closure of the airport in Entebbe and of our borders, to return home in a phased and orderly manner.

The minister told Parliament that the first batch of Ugandans to return home will be from Europe, the Americas and Asia among other regions that have been greatly affected by the Covid-19.

Kutesa, however, said: “All the returning travelers will be required to meet the cost of their own travel back home as has been the international practice for many countries.”

He said: “We have also held discussions with the United Nations which still operates many humanitarian flights across Africa, to consider placing some of the stranded Ugandans on these flights as they transit through Entebbe or as they bring in their UN personnel.”

He stated: “The @WFP will also be operating some humanitarian passenger flights in the region which we can take advantage of to return some of our people.”

The minister explained: “My Ministry has already held discussions with some of the Airlines which still operate a wide network of routes around the world, such as Ethiopian Airlines,regarding the modalities by which they can pick our people from the different locations and bring them to a more central.”

He added: “Place such as Addis Ababa from where we can further arrange for special flights to bring them home.”

Kutesa said: “Our view is that the first phase of these returns should be Ugandans who are stranded in distant places such as Europe, the Americas, West Africa, Eastern Asia and the Middle East.”

The minister added: “The Gov’t is cognizant of the capacity of our Health system to safely manage the numbers involved as it repatriates Ugandans.”

The Min of Foreign Affairs undertook to identify and register all the Ugandans who got stranded abroad on account of the airport and border closures and so far,our Missions abroad have so far registered close to 2,400 individuals who are stuck in 66 countries in the world:Hon Sam

The country has now built considerable domestic capacity to manage the #COVID19UG  pandemic in terms of structures, human resources and citizen awareness: Hon. Sam Kutesa.

Cabinet approved the return of 2500 Ugandans trapped in other countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Cabinet chaired by President Yoweri Museveni last week agreed to have Ugandans return but at their own cost.

The minister of Information and ICT Judith Nabakooba while addressing journalists in Kampala, confirmed the development.

Nabakooba said: “It was agreed that the stranded Ugandans cater for the own flight costs, testing upon arrival and undergo the mandatory 14 days of quarantine at their own cost as well.”

The minister stated: “The government  will work with different partners such as United Nations which have private planes and see how to evacuate Ugandans trapped in over 66 countries all over the world.”

Nabakooba, however, noted that the decision to fly Ugandans does not apply to citizens living in the neigbouring countries.

Many Ugandans are locked up in USA, Europe and Asia.

Kutesa came under attack from Ugandans by authorising a plane carrying the family of Businessman Ben Kavuya from the USA to land in Uganda during COVID-19 lockdown.

The passengers were “privately” quarantined.