Uganda has received fifty one (51) Afghan refugees on Wednesday morning who arrived aboard a privately chartered flight at the Entebbe International Airport.
This follows a request from the US Government and acceptance by the government of Uganda to temporarily host at-risk Afghan Nationals and other Nationals who are in transit to the United States of America and other destinations worldwide.
“Uganda and the United States enjoy long standing cordial bilateral relations which are historic in nature and continue to pursue common interests for the mutual benefit of both countries,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“The evacuees who included men, women and children underwent the necessary security screening as well as the mandatory Covid-19 testing and the required quarantine procedures.”
“The decision to those in need is informed by government of Uganda’s consistent policy of receiving refugees and persons in distress as well as playing a responsible roles in matters of international concern,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
A total of 2,000 Afghan refugees are expected to be hosted in Uganda.
The 2000 refugee’s bills will be catered for by the American government for a period of three months. Unlike other asylum seekers, the Afghans will not go to refugee camps but will be hosted in various hotels in the country.
Uganda is currently home to over a million refugees from mostly neighbouring countries including South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.
