JOHANNESBURG - Uganda is the latest African country offering voluntary repatriation for its citizens from South Africa.
The Ugandan government has announced that it will be evacuating close to 1,200 of its citizens from South Africa following anti-illegal immigration protests.
Uganda’s Minister of State, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, said the first chartered flight, arranged through the national carrier, was scheduled to leave Uganda for South Africa on Tuesday night.
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The country joins others such as Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and Mozambique, which have also offered voluntary repatriation for their citizens ahead of the unofficial June 30 deadline for illegal migrants to leave South Africa.
Kasolo, speaking via the ministry’s social media pages, said preparations were underway.
"We had to undergo certain processes," said Kasolo.
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"Some of our nationals didn't have proper documents, others had expired documents, so we needed to undergo certain processes," he added.
The South African Department of Home Affairs has previously noted that many foreign nationals involved in repatriation drives often do not have adequate documentation.
As a result, various consulates in South Africa have had to issue travel certificates to allow their nationals to return home.
Uganda had initially announced that more than 700 of its citizens had sought repatriation. However, Kasolo later confirmed that the number had risen to 1,200.
Kasolo said authorities are prepared even if the numbers increase further.
Latest update on the evacuation of Ugandan Nationals from South Africa. pic.twitter.com/NzCdK1memX
— Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo (@HonKyeyune) June 30, 2026