JOHANNESBURG – The Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, has assured Ugandans living in South Africa that their welfare, safety, and security remain a top priority for the Government of Uganda.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaker Oboth issued the reassurance during a high-level meeting with leaders of the Ugandan community in South Africa, led by Moses Kibombo, the President of the Confederation of Ugandans in Southern Africa (COUSA).
The Speaker is in Johannesburg, South Africa, attending the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth Africa Region.
During the meeting, also attended by Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Paul Amoru, engagements were focused on the plight of hundreds of Ugandans facing potential arrest, detention, and deportation.
The community leaders presented a petition to the Speaker, highlighting severe financial hardships and documentation challenges exacerbated by a looming June 30, 2026, deadline for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.
Kibombo noted that while many Ugandans are willing to return home voluntarily, over 60 percent have lost jobs due to xenophobic attacks and cannot afford travel documents or air tickets.
“More than 60% of the affected Ugandans lost jobs due to the economic downturn and recurring xenophobic attacks. As a result, many cannot afford return air tickets, passport replacement fees, Emergency Travel Certificate charges, or immigration penalties,” Kibombo explained.
The community leaders also reported that families are stranded due to expired travel documents and that some Ugandan parents with children born in South Africa lack the necessary birth certificates and travel documents to facilitate their departure.
Responding to the concerns, Speaker Oboth pledged to work closely with the executive and relevant government agencies to find actionable solutions.
“Parliament will work closely with the Executive and all relevant government agencies to ensure actionable solutions are found. The welfare and protection of Ugandans abroad remains a priority,” Speaker Oboth stated.
The Speaker also committed to following up on a detailed report containing recommendations submitted by the Uganda High Commission to Kampala aimed at protecting affected citizens.
COUSA formally requested the Government of Uganda to expedite the issuance of Emergency Travel Certificates, deploy mobile consular teams, and engage South African authorities to grant an amnesty period for voluntary departures.
It further appealed for the establishment of a humanitarian repatriation fund to assist vulnerable groups, including women with children, the elderly, and the destitute who wish to return home.
Earlier this week, Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Paul Amoru, convened a crisis meeting in Cape Town following reports of escalating xenophobic threats.
Amoru advised Ugandans to stay calm, vigilant, and cooperative with South African authorities, while also urging them to report any safety issues to the nearest police and follow all lawful instructions.
The hotspots of the latest anti-migrant sentiments are Johannesburg, Durban, and KwaZulu-Natal, where foreign-owned businesses and migrant communities have reported intimidation and harassment.
More than 500,000 Ugandans living in the country remain on high alert amidst renewed anti-migrant demonstrations and vigilantism.
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