The Government of Uganda is urgently working on evacuation plans for its nationals stranded near the Iran-Turkey border, as the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies into one of the region’s most dangerous military escalations in years.
The Ugandan government has initiated plans to evacuate dozens of its citizens, including students, who are stranded near the Iran-Turkey border as military confrontations between Israel and Iran intensify, following a dramatic exchange of airstrikes that erupted this month
Dr. Vincent Bagire, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that a response plan is already in motion.
“The team here at headquarters, along with our staff in Turkey, is actively preparing for any eventualities,” Bagire said. “While air tickets have not yet been booked, a plan is in place.”
Bagire revealed that around 48 Ugandan students are currently in the danger zone near the border. Two Ugandan diplomats have been deployed to receive them, although some students have opted to stay behind due to ongoing transport challenges.
“These are Ugandans in distress, and the government will take responsibility to ensure they are funded and evacuated. We cannot just leave them stranded in Turkey without a proper plan to bring them home,” he emphasized.
Tensions in the Middle East soared after Israel launched targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear and military installations.
Iran responded with aerial attacks deep into Israeli territory. Iran’s Health Ministry reports over 220 fatalities from Israeli strikes, while Israeli authorities confirm at least 24 deaths due to Iranian retaliation.
The conflict is rooted in decades of hostility, with Iran supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and Israel conducting pre-emptive strikes to block Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The United States, under President Donald Trump, is reportedly weighing direct involvement by supporting Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities.
While Uganda’s evacuation efforts remain focused on humanitarian priorities, the situation continues to expose the vulnerabilities of African nationals caught in volatile global conflicts.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to issue a formal travel advisory and updates on the evacuation process in the coming days.
As diplomatic efforts across the world intensify to de-escalate the conflict, Uganda joins other countries working to shield their citizens from the fallout of a geopolitical standoff with far-reaching implications.
