By Frank KamuntuÂ
Entebbe – A contingent of 12 Ugandans, including a mother of four, touched down at Entebbe International Airport this morning after years of hardship in South Africa, marking the first phase of a repatriation initiative personally sanctioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and executed through the Office of the National Chairman (ONC).
The mission, spearheaded by ONC Manager Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, was coordinated in close liaison with the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria and leadership of Ugandans staying in South Africa to secure travel documents and other requisites for the returnees, many of whom had been living in dire conditions.
According to Namyalo, the repatriated nationals—particularly those with children—had been enduring severe economic distress, with some losing close relatives in the diaspora due to compounded hardships. She revealed that several had gone without steady food supplies and were languishing in poverty, prompting urgent intervention.
“Now that they are home, we will allow them time to recuperate. Thereafter, I shall engage His Excellency to explore ways the government can empower them with sustainable, income-generating ventures so they can reintegrate and live dignified lives,” Namyalo stated.
She used the occasion to remind Ugandans—especially those critical of the Head of State—that Uganda remains their ancestral home and a nation worth building together. “President Museveni is a caring father to all his bazzukulu. He cannot stand by while his people suffer,” she stressed.
Diaspora Leadership Applauds Government Effort
Mr. Moses Kibombo Ssentongo, Chairman of Ugandans in South Africa, lauded President Museveni for entrusting Namyalo with the operation, noting that more than 120 Ugandans in South Africa have already registered and are eager to return.
He disclosed that this initial group was prioritized based on extreme vulnerability, including illness, depression, and job loss. However, he underscored the need for bilateral engagement between Kampala and Pretoria to facilitate smoother repatriations, citing obstacles such as the detention of Ugandans at South African airports over visa overstay charges.
“Many of our people are in detention centres, helpless and pleading for rescue,” Ssentongo noted.
Tales of Struggle and Hope
One of the returnees, Namukwaya Masitula, a former restaurateur in Pretoria, narrated her ordeal. After a decade in South Africa, her once-thriving business collapsed three years ago following a targeted campaign by National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who alleged that she is a supporter of Museveni and one day would serve them poison. For four years, she has been unemployed, with her three daughters forced out of school due to financial constraints.
She expressed gratitude to President Museveni and Namyalo for facilitating their safe return, appealing for start-up capital to rebuild their livelihoods. “We have endured enough suffering. Back home, we hope to restore dignity and secure a better future for our children,” she said.
The ONC manager has indicated that more repatriation missions will follow, with emphasis placed on the most distressed Ugandans abroad.
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