By Our Reporter
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has embarked on a mission to repatriate Ugandans who got stranded in China because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and consequent lockdown.
The first batch of returnees included 72 Ugandans and legal residents who arrived in Uganda on Friday, although many others are still stranded in China and will be repatriated within the next few days.
We have established that the group arrived at Entebbe International Airport at 11:30 am on Friday aboard Southern China Airlines from Guangzhou China and were received by Ministry of Foreign affairs officials.
The government of the Peoples Republic of China and that of Uganda also processed the repatriation of hundreds of Chinese nationals who returned to China aboard the Southern China Airlines, after they departed Entebbe International Airport for Baiyun International Airport in China.
It should be noted that the government suspended passenger flights in March this year and closed all Points of Entry into Uganda, which left many Ugandans stranded abroad.
However, following the partial lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown, the government, together with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have since started repatriation of several Ugandans who had been stranded in Europe, America, Asia, South Africa, West Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other parts of the world.
