A Ugandan national who was stranded in war-torn Afghanistan following the takeover of Kabul by Taliban has managed to return home, government officials confirmed on Monday.
In a statement, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire said that Stephen Wamala, who was evacuated from Kabul, Afghanistan, was working with an Afghan Wireless Communication Company as a heavy equipment Engineer.
“Wamala was evacuated by the U.S. government at the request of the government of Uganda to an Air-force base in Berlin, Germany. He travelled back to Uganda on Friday September 3 2021 aboard an SN Brussels flight from Frankfurt to Entebbe,” said Bagiire.
According to Bagiire, Wamala’s travel expenses and related costs were met by the Embassy of Uganda in Berlin – Germany.
Recalling his experience in Kabul during unrest and takeover, Wamala applauded the government of Uganda and US for all the assistance accorded to safely evacuate him from Kabul to Germany.
Recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gen Jeje Odongo said that despite government efforts to try to evacuate Ugandans trapped in Afghanistan, some of them refused to leave.
The minister told Parliament that the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban happened too fast, but being mindful of the danger posed to foreigners, Uganda had joined other 60 nations calling on the Taliban to ensure safe evacuation of foreign nationals.
Odongo said that the government was taking every effort to look out for all Ugandans trapped in Afghanistan and have since established that there are also some Ugandans who are unwilling to return.
Wamala joins 13 other Ugandans who had been evacuated earlier and he is healthy, safe and ready to proceed to his home in Kitagwenda district, according to the Ministry.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to assist in evacuating any Ugandan nationals stranded in Afghanistan who wish to return home,” said Bagiire.
The first batch of 51 refugees from Afghanistan recently arrived in Uganda where they will stay temporarily.
Uganda is currently home to over 1.5 million refugees from mostly neighbouring countries including South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo who are running away from conflict in their home countries.