Monday July 6, 2020
By JOSEPH KIGGUNDU
Some of the Somalia nationals at the departure lounge at Entebbe Airport. Photo by Joseph Kiggundu
ENTEBBE- At least 133 Somali nationals have been repatriated to Somalia after being stranded in Uganda for close to three months when flights were suspended after the breakout of coronavirus pandemic.
The group is part of the 400 Somalia nationals who have so far been evacuated by their government out of Uganda since the outbreak of the deadly disease.
The majority of the evacuees who were repatriated on Saturday are students studying in various universities in Uganda.
Others who travelled aboard a chartered plane were visitors, tourists and business people.
Somalia’s acting ambassador to Uganda, Mr Ali Mohamed thanked Uganda for clearing the team to travel given the existing lockdown and ban on international passenger flights.
“All those leaving Uganda for Somali have duly been checked and found to be negative for COVID-19,” he said.
Mr Mohamed said that the government of Somalia through its embassy in Kampala is registering Somalis who have been stranded in Uganda, to enable them travel home.
Ms Nur Ali Abdi, 80, one of the evacuees said she came to Uganda to seek medical attention.
She has been staying in Mengo-Kisenyi, Kampala City.