The Ugandan Embassy in Tehran has evacuated two diplomats and 42 students to Turkey following the outbreak of armed conflict between Iran and Israel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the evacuations in a statement posted Friday, June 20, on its official X account, formerly Twitter.
Fighting erupted on June 13 when tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel boiled over into open conflict. The Uganda mission in Tehran, working closely with its counterpart in Ankara, set up an emergency evacuation coordination center in Turkey to facilitate the exit of its nationals.
The embassy arranged ground transport for the evacuees and worked with Turkish authorities to secure visas on arrival.
“This enabled emergency evacuation of the affected Ugandans back home through Turkey,” the statement said.
The operation is being overseen by Uganda’s Chargé d’Affaires in Tehran, Ambassador Twaha Matata. He is supported by Minister Counsellor Oscar J. Edule and Financial Attaché Agaba Mark.
The three officials are coordinating continued evacuations for Ugandans still inside Iran. The Ministry says the centre in Turkey will remain open until all nationals are repatriated.
Those already evacuated were received on Wednesday, June 18, at the Bargarzan border by Mr. Julius Malinga, Second Secretary at the Uganda Embassy in Tehran, Ms. Zainah Nabirye, and Mr. Mubarak Daka from the Ankara mission. From there, the group was transported to Istanbul and is expected to board a commercial charter flight home.
Registration is ongoing for other Ugandans still trapped in Iran.
“Relatives and anyone with information on Ugandans still trapped… should reach out to the following officers,” the Ministry said, listing contact numbers for Amb. Matata, Mr. Edule, and Mr. Malinga.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment “to safeguarding the welfare of Ugandans abroad, especially in times of crisis.”
As of Friday, June 20, the death toll from a week of Israeli strikes on Iran had climbed to at least 657 people, with 2,037 injured, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group.
