An air of pent up relief and euphoria filled the air in Aksarai, Fati District of Istanbul on the European side of Türkiye as a busload of 45 Ugandans evacuated from Tehran pulled up to the All Seasons Hotel, where they will stay during their transit before finally traveling to Uganda.
The group most of whom were from Ahlul Bayt International University and one from Allameh Tabataba’i University were led by Mr. Isaac Nimwesiga, a student leader who contacted the Charge D’ Affaires a.i. Amb. Twaha Matata and the PS Foreign Affairs, last week alerting them to their location and informing them of the need to be evacuated.
While in Tehran, the group was picked up by Bus transport facilitated by the Uganda Embassy and the 917km Road trip commenced from Southern Tehran to Bazargan having made a last-minute change of destination from Azerbaijan. A separate group of 11 students opted to remain behind.
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According to Amb. Matata, the number of Ugandans known to the Embassy were approximately 150 out of whom 125 are students, 42 of whom have now been evacuated leaving around 65 students in Iran. “Those who have remained in Iran have voluntarily chosen to stay behind,” he emphasized.
The group of 42 students who were accompanied by 3 Ugandan diplomatic staff on the journey, travelled 20 hours from Tehran to the Bazargan-Gurbulak border where they were received by Mr. Julius Malinga, Second Secretary and Ms. Zainah Nabirye, Administrative Attache and spent the night at the border as they awaited special procedures for entry visas into Türkiye. On the Turkish side, the group were received by Mr. Mubarak Daka from the Uganda Embassy in Ankara who accompanied the group on the 22 hour road trip from Gurbuluk, to Istanbul. There were no reported injuries or illnesses.
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The group were warmly received by a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, accompanied by the Ambassador of Uganda to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu and the Tehran Embassy team, whose operations have now been temporarily shifted to Ankara. They were given safety tips and reminded to abide by the terms of their visas by Defence Attache Maj. Gen. Bob Ogiki.
Congratulating them on their safe arrival, Amb. Tiperu welcomed them and assured them of a comfortable transit stay in Istanbul as preparations are made for their final trip to Uganda. The Government will meet the cost of their hotel stay and meals during the period that they await completion of air travel arrangements.
Permanent Secretary Bagiire conveyed greetings from H.E. the President, informing the group that the President had expressed deep concern for their safe evacuation and had instructed the Government to facilitate their stay and travel to Uganda. Mr. Bagiire emphasized that the safety of all Ugandan citizens abroad was of paramount importance and core to the work of the ministry. He called on those that had chosen to voluntarily remain in Tehran, to reconsider the decision while the Government was still in a position to make useful interventions. “I want to assure you that the Ministry’s work is to promote and protect Uganda’s interests abroad, and those interests include our citizens,” he said.
As the world carefully monitors developments between Israel and Iran, Uganda’s Embassy in Tehran has set up an emergency evacuation coordination centre, which will continue to operate until further notice. In this regard, the relatives and anyone with information on Ugandans still trapped in the Islamic Republic of Iran should reach out to:
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Twaha Matata, CDA a.i. +256772594096
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Edule Oscar, Minister Counsellor +256702020277
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Julius Malinga, Second Secretary +256782572879
