The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odong, has promised to investigate cases in which over 100 Ugandan students were hoodwinked into paying for scholarships in Iran.
The government’s committee follows claims raised by Kyadondo East MP Muwanga Nkunyingi who said that Ugandans are stranded in Iran after finding out that the said courses were nonexistent prompting some of the students to resort to prostitution.
Igara West MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa claimed that the NRM Chairperson of Kyambogo published an advertisement requesting all Ugandans who want to go to Iran for scholarships in various courses, and people responded by paying each $800 to go to Iran, only to realize upon arrival in Iran that they had entered the Arab nation to study ghost courses.
Kimaanya Kabonero Division MP Abed Bwanika confirmed the allegations of Ugandans being hoodwinked, saying one of his relatives, Peter Ssentongo, a resident of Kira Municipality, was a victim of the said scheme.
“One of my relatives is a victim of that scheme; he was taken to Iran to study veterinary medicine. He reached Iran and got stranded; we have just evacuated him; he didn’t even have a passport back. This is a serious matter that needs to be investigated,” said Bwanika.
Muwada asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to normalize diplomatic relations with other countries so that nationals are not mistreated.
Muwada asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the process of naming a substantive Ambassador to Iran, arguing that following the death of Muhammad Kisambira in August 2023, the position has remained vacant, thus exposing Ugandans living in Iran to living without any diplomatic representation in case they encounter any challenge.
“Our diplomatic representation with Iran is also still lacking; a while ago, the substantive ambassador passed away, and to date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hasn’t sent in a replacement, meaning that the Ugandans who are there and whatever challenge they are facing, no one is there to address it diplomatically,” he said.
Minister Odong admitted that Kisambira’s position remains vacant, but he informed the house that Iran isn’t the only station without an ambassador.
