KAMPALA: Government has handed Shs10 million to each of the families of three Ugandans who were killed during recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as part of efforts to support the bereaved and reaffirm its commitment to citizens affected by the violence.
The condolence contribution was presented on Wednesday by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni.
During a meeting with the families in Kampala, Kasolo conveyed the President's and government's condolences, assuring them that Uganda would continue supporting citizens affected by the attacks.
He said the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies, had already facilitated the repatriation of the bodies of the deceased for burial in Uganda.
Kasolo added that the ministry was continuing to coordinate the safe return of other Ugandans who wish to leave the affected areas in South Africa.
He also pledged government support for returnees to rebuild their lives through existing socio-economic empowerment programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), which is intended to help households create sustainable livelihoods.
The bereaved families thanked President Museveni and the government for facilitating the return of their loved ones' remains, providing financial support and maintaining communication throughout the repatriation process.
Ambassador Johnny Muhindo, the Head of the Diaspora Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed the families on the ministry's ongoing engagement with Ugandans living abroad and measures aimed at strengthening the protection and welfare of citizens working outside the country.
The support follows the deaths of three Ugandans during anti-migrant violence that swept several South African provinces.
Last week, while receiving the first group of 273 Ugandans evacuated from South Africa aboard a Uganda Airlines charter flight, Kasolo confirmed that the victims included Wilbert Nuwamanya, who was killed in KwaZulu-Natal Province, another Ugandan who died in Cape Town and a third victim whose details were also confirmed by the government.
The evacuation exercise was ordered by President Museveni and is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, security agencies, the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda's High Commission in Pretoria and Ugandan community leaders in South Africa.
Many of the returnees said they fled with only the clothes they were wearing after businesses, homes and personal property were destroyed or abandoned during the unrest.
Government has pledged to continue repatriating Ugandans who wish to return home and to support their reintegration into the country's economy through existing development programmes.
The violence in South Africa has triggered one of the region's largest evacuation operations in recent years, with several African countries, including Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana, repatriating citizens following attacks targeting foreign nationals.
