Ugandans trapped in war-zone Sudan to arrive on Wednesday

By Olivia Nabaggala

25^th April 2023

Over 200 Ugandans who were evacuated from the war-torn Sudan will jet into the country on Wednesday this week, the Government has confirmed.

The bulk of Ugandans who are in three categories, students, Muslims that were travelling to Mecca and traders got trapped in Sudan after the war broke out in the capital Khartoum a few days ago.

Since the outbreak of fighting between the Government forces of Sudan and the Rapid Support Force militia group, Uganda had tried to rescue its citizens who cried out for help.

Two days ago, the External Security Organization (ESO) Director Ambassador Joseph Ocwet, who is in Uganda organized buses to transport its citizens towards the East, to the border of Ethiopia where the plan could pick them.

Government had chartered the Uganda Airlines Airbus to airlift them from Ethiopia on Tuesday but the plan wasn’t possible after the Ethiopian government informed Uganda that the airport runway is too small for the Airbus.

Now, addressing the journalists in Kampala on Tuesday, the Government Spokesperson Ofwono Opondo noted that these people have to use buses to travel close to 900 Kms to the North of Ethiopia where there is a bigger airport.

Uganda now joins other countries such as; France, Canada, and the United Kingdom that have evacuated their citizens from Sudan.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party youth wing, the Uganda Young Democrats has tasked the Government to repatriate all Ugandans who are still stranded in Sudan and some who sneaked into South Sudan.

This call was made by the UYD President, Ismail Kiirya while addressing journalists at their party headquarters at City House in Kampala.