The government has begun rehabilitating Ugandan nationals repatriated from South Africa following recent unrest and xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, in which at least three Ugandans reportedly lost their lives.
The returnees are undergoing psychosocial support and reintegration training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi before being reunited with their families.
The rehabilitation programme continued on Monday following the arrival of a fourth evacuation flight carrying 166 Ugandans from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The group was received at Entebbe International Airport by government officials led by Ambassador Dickens Ogwang before proceeding to Kyankwanzi.
According to Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Paul Amoru, the latest arrivals bring the total number of Ugandans voluntarily repatriated under the government evacuation programme to 730. So far, 266 Ugandans returned on the first flight, 32 on the second, 266 on the third and 166 on the fourth.
At NALI, the returnees are receiving counselling and psychosocial support to help them recover from the emotional and psychological effects of the violence. Many lost businesses, jobs, homes and, in some cases, family members during the unrest.
Government officials say the programme is also addressing the economic challenges facing those who were forced to abandon their livelihoods. They say the rehabilitation process is intended to help returnees regain confidence, cope with trauma and prepare for successful reintegration into their communities.
Leading the counselling sessions, Peter Baguma encouraged the returnees to remain hopeful despite the hardships they had endured.
“Although many of you have lost property and sources of income, you have not lost the opportunity to rebuild your lives,” Baguma said, emphasizing that professional counselling is essential in helping survivors overcome trauma and prevent long-term psychological effects.
The returnees were also officially welcomed home by Helen Seku, who conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Museveni and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting their successful reintegration
The programme is also providing support to young adults and children who were born and raised in South Africa. For many of them, the evacuation marked their first visit to Uganda and their first opportunity to meet relatives in their ancestral homeland.
Government officials say the recent unrest in South Africa disproportionately affected foreign nationals, with many reporting hostility linked to employment, business ownership and marriages involving South African citizens.
Following a comprehensive briefing by the Executive Director of the National Identification and Registration Authority with official’s from the government,Rosemary Kisembo, on the requirements for acquiring a Ugandan National Identification Card, many of the South African returnees turned up in large numbers to register for National Identification Numbers (NINs), apply for new National IDs, and renew expired identity cards.
The registration exercise is also taking place at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi, where NIRA officials are providing the returnees with identity registration and renewal services as part of their reintegration into Ugandan society.
