A group of 211 Ugandans who were caught in the middle of the raging war in Sudan arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday morning aboard Uganda Airlines.
The group which was led by Ambassador Rashid Ssemuddu were received by the Senior presidential advisor on special operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Following the safe return, Ambassador Ssemuddu appreciated the president and the government for ensuring that they were evacuated.
“Allow me to appreciate His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, and his government for all the efforts which have been made to make sure that a number of 211 Ugandans have been evacuated today from Bahir Dar Airport in Ethiopia,”
“The total number which we had was 300 Ugandans, including 18 who are working at our embassy and 19 who were in transit going to Mecca and 120 who are students at Africa International University and around 120 who are working there in Khartoum, and some few who were on a short visit in Khartoum (Sudan’s capital).” he stated.
Ssemuddu furthermore revealed that 8 Ugandans were evacuated with the help of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 3 used Port Sudan, 7 used the Ethiopia-Sudan border while others went through South Sudan bringing the total to around 250 evacuees.
He also said that the remaining 50 Ugandans are on their radar and will be repatriated soon with the help of government.
Less than a fortnight ago fighting broke out in Sudan between the Rapid Support Force of Sudan led by the Vice President Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and the Sudan armed forces.