A group of 41 Ugandan nationals has been successfully evacuated from the Islamic Republic of Iran and arrived safely in Uganda aboard an Emirates Airlines flight on Monday, amidst escalating regional tensions and growing insecurity in the Middle East.
The evacuation was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close collaboration with Uganda’s embassies in Tehran and Abu Dhabi, following weeks of uncertainty surrounding the safety of Ugandan citizens living, studying, and working in Iran.
The move comes in response to a worsening geopolitical crisis that has triggered a wave of evacuations by several countries across the region.
According to officials at Entebbe International Airport, the returnees were received by the Prime minister and Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesperson.
“These are some of our fellow Ugandans who were caught up in a volatile situation. Government is grateful for their safe return and remains committed to ensuring the safety of Ugandans wherever they are in the world,” said Ambassador Twaha Matata Twaha,the Charge d'Affaires at the Ugandan Embassy in Tehran.
The group includes students who had been residing in different cities across Iran.
Some reportedly faced communication and mobility challenges during the height of the crisis, with several calling for urgent intervention from Ugandan authorities in recent weeks.
Iran has recently been at the center of escalating military and political tensions with key regional and global actors, resulting in increased instability, airport closures, and concerns over the safety of foreign nationals.
Uganda’s evacuation is part of a broader global effort by countries to repatriate citizens from conflict zones and areas experiencing civil unrest.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged all Ugandans abroad to register with embassies and remain in close contact during emergencies.