The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), through Defence Advisor in Turkey Major General Bob Ogiki, has successfully evacuated 43 Ugandan students stranded in Tehran, Iran, relocating them to safety in Turkey where they are now awaiting repatriation to Uganda.
The evacuation was carried out in direct response to the rapidly worsening security situation in Iran following joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes over the weekend that targeted multiple sites across the country, including the capital Tehran.
The strikes resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering immediate retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran and pushing the region into a state of heightened alert. Major General Ogiki coordinated the operation, ensuring the students were safely extracted from the conflict zone and transferred to Turkish territory.
The students are reported to be in good health and receiving necessary support while arrangements are finalised for their return home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara have been working closely with Turkish authorities and international partners to facilitate the evacuation and provide consular assistance.
Efforts remain ongoing to locate, contact, and rescue any additional Ugandans who may still be stranded in various parts of Iran. Authorities are appealing to any citizens still in the country to reach out to the nearest Ugandan diplomatic mission or the Ministry’s emergency lines.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vincent Bagiire reiterated the government’s commitment to the safety of all Ugandans abroad.
“We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with grave concern,” Bagiire said. “All necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and welfare of our nationals. We urge Ugandans to avoid travel to high-risk areas until the security situation stabilises,” he added.
The evacuation highlights the UPDF’s role in supporting consular and crisis-response operations beyond Uganda’s borders. Non-essential staff have already been withdrawn from the Ugandan Embassy in Tehran, and consular services there remain limited due to the ongoing insecurity. The government has advised all Ugandans to suspend travel to Iran and other affected countries in the region until further notice.
