Speaking in an interview with NBS Television on Monday, Amoru said the situation had worsened over the past three months, prompting the government to activate emergency arrangements for affected Ugandans.
“The threat is real and it has proved problematic over the last three months,” Amoru said.
He said about 1,000 Ugandans had so far registered for evacuation, describing them as “severely distressed and vulnerable” individuals in need of urgent government-assisted return.
“We have assessed the situation over the last three months and we now have about 1,000 Ugandans who have registered. These are severely distressed and vulnerable Ugandans who require a government-coordinated and funded urgent evacuation,” he said.
Amoru said the unrest had been reported across several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng — which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria — and parts of the Western Cape, where migrant communities have faced heightened tensions.
He attributed the violence to coordinated actions by local vigilante groups, which he said have mobilised protests against African migrants amid accusations that foreigners are taking up jobs in a country grappling with high unemployment.
“In many of these areas, there has been scapegoating of African immigrants, with claims that they are taking up jobs meant for locals,” he said.
The envoy said evacuation efforts will prioritise Ugandans who have lost livelihoods, been displaced from their homes, or are located in areas identified as high-risk.
He said the package would include government-funded air tickets, emergency travel documents issued at no cost, and coordination with South African authorities to ensure safe and orderly exit.
Amoru added that the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria is working with Ugandan community leaders to verify and register those eligible for evacuation.
He also said the evacuation plan follows directives from Kampala, including guidance from President Yoweri Museveni, and coordination led by the Office of the Prime Minister and relevant ministries.
However, he clarified that not all Ugandans in South Africa are affected by the evacuation plan, noting that those with valid residence permits, stable employment and established businesses are expected to remain as authorities engage counterparts to restore order.
The South African government, he said, has assured diplomatic missions that security agencies are being deployed to contain the violence and arrest those behind attacks on foreign nationals.
Amoru confirmed that at least one Ugandan national had been killed in KwaZulu-Natal after being attacked and robbed of his motorcycle, underscoring what he described as the seriousness of the situation.
The developments come amid reports of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in parts of South Africa, including calls by some groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country, prompting concern among several African diplomatic missions.
Uganda joins other countries reviewing contingency plans to protect their citizens as tensions over migration and unemployment continue to flare in parts of South Africa.