The Ugandan cabinet has approved the return of 2,400 nationals stranded abroad amid COVID-19 pandemic, a government official said on Tuesday.
“The cabinet on Monday agreed that Ugandan nationals trapped in 66 countries can return home at their own cost,” Judith Nabakooba, minister for information, communication technology and national guidance, told reporters.
“The Cabinet in principle agreed that Ugandans who are stranded abroad should be allowed to return home. They are going to return in phases,” said Nabakooba.
President Yoweri Museveni last month directed Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to study the possibility of evacuating dozens of citizens stranded abroad amid COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.
To contain the spread of COVID-19, the east African country on March 22 suspended all incoming flights, except cargo flights.
Uganda currently has 222 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 69 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health.
*This version corrects an earlier version published Wednesday, May 27 in which CGTN Africa erroneously reported the Ugandan government was making arrangements with the UN World Food Programme to fly stranded citizens home. In a statement, the WFP explained to CGTN Africa that through its Global Flight Service, the organization has committed only to flying humanitarians with mission assignments in Uganda back into the country.
