The first batch Ugandans totaling to 265 have been repatriated from South Africa and is expected to arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, at 6:30pm, as the government moves to rescue citizens caught up in rising anti-migrant unrest and growing security concerns in the South African nation.

Preliminary information indicates that the said returnees are travelling aboard a special Uganda Airlines charter flight fully funded by the Government of Uganda, in what officials described as the first phase of a broader evacuation exercise.

The repatriation follows a directive from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni after hundreds of Ugandans in South Africa appealed for help amid escalating xenophobic protests and violence.

The government said more than 700 Ugandans have so far registered for voluntary return, with additional evacuation flights already scheduled for July 4th – 6th, 2026.

The evacuation was officially announced on June 28th, 2026, by the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo who said the government had commenced urgent preparations to facilitate the safe return of Ugandan nationals who have been living under fear following months of unrest in parts of South Africa.

Kasolo said that the decision was taken in response to deteriorating security conditions and the increasing vulnerability of foreign nationals, including Ugandans, amid a wave of anti-migrant protests that have swept through several communities in South Africa.

“This evacuation is part of the government’s commitment to protect Ugandan citizens wherever they may be, and the repatriation is being carried out as a humanitarian intervention for those who expressed willingness to return home,” Kasolo added.

The operation is being coordinated through a multi-agency effort involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Prime Minister, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, and leaders of the Ugandan community in South Africa.

Officials said this coordinated approach has been crucial in identifying affected citizens, processing travel arrangements, and ensuring their safe departure from South Africa.

The first group of returnees is expected to receive support upon arrival at Entebbe, as government agencies prepare to handle their reception and facilitate reintegration where necessary. Authorities have not ruled out further evacuations if the security situation in South Africa worsens or if more Ugandans request to return home.

The repatriation marks one of the largest recent government-led evacuation efforts involving Ugandan nationals abroad and underscores growing concern over the safety of African migrants in South Africa amid recurring waves of xenophobic violence.

With two more flights already planned and hundreds still waiting to return, the government’s evacuation programme is likely to continue over the coming days as officials race to bring vulnerable Ugandans home safely.