Concerned legislators have tasked the Government to issue a status report about the safety of Ugandans trapped by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This follows reports that Africans in Ukraine are being blocked from crossing the border to flee the raging war started by Moscow.
Theodore Ssekikubo, the Lwemiyaga County MP and his Kyadondo East counterpart and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Muwada Nkunyingi raised the matter of national importance during plenary on Tuesday afternoon.
Ssesikubo told the House that more than 100 Ugandans living, working and studying in Ukraine are currently trapped and their fate remains unknown in the wake of Russian missiles and rocket pounding residential buildings.
He noted that Africans are being mistreated and being blocked from boarding passenger trains exiting Ukraine and the urged Government to state its position and how Ugandans can be evacuated from the war zone.
Muwada urged the Government to use its consul in Moscow to establish the number of Ugandans trapped in the conflict and ensure their safe evacuation.
Security Minister, Jim Muhwezi who also doubles as the Bujumbura County legislator in Rukungiri District informed the House that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is preparing a statement on the matter.
On Monday, the African Union (AU) noted that it is “disturbed” by reports that African nationals are being blocked from crossing the border to escape the violent conflict in the country while priority is given to the Ukrainians.
“All people have the right to cross international borders during the conflict, and as such, should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity,” the Pan-African body said.
Several countries including the USA, Spain, Britain, France, Sweden, Belgium among others have been evacuating their nationals ever since the Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin declared a special military operation against Ukraine on February 24 2022.
International media organizations and the Ukrainian Government have reported the death of hundreds of civilians resulting from the deadly Russian invasion.