source photo: RFI
By Kabakura Jean Bosco Ceusi
Uganda on Tuesday received 51 evacuees from Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement.
They arrived at Entebbe International Airport early morning aboard a privately chartered plane.
"They underwent the necessary security screening as well as the mandatory Covid-19 testing and quarantine procedures," the statement says.
Uganda says the US requested it to host "at-risk" Afghans and people of other nationalities who are in transit to America and other nations. The country says it agreed to host the evacuees in line with its "consistent policy in receiving refugees and persons in distress as well as playing a responsible role in matters of international concern."
Ugandans who were to travel on this flight were unable to make it due to challenges in accessing the airport in Kabul, the statement says. However, arrangements are being made to have them travel on another flightless
Last week, the US called on countries, including Uganda, to accept Afghan refugees who are fleeing the Talibans. During two weeks , the country is in the hands of a terrorist group that is attacking former US-appointed leaders. Different human rights organizations urge Talibans to stop killing civilians.