The Ugandan embassy in Doha repatriated the second batch of stranded Ugandans from Qatar via a chartered flight Friday.
Ugandan ambassador Dr Stephen Chemoiko Chebrot told 'Gulf Times' that 167 Ugandan citizens and legal residents departed from Hamad International Airport (HIA) aboard the Qatar Airways chartered flight organised by the embassy. “Among the returnees are citizens and legal residents from Australia, Pakistan, and Iran (who were stranded in Qatar due to the Covid-19 pandemic),” the envoy said, adding that all the passengers were tested for Covid-19 and found negative and safe to travel.
He thanked the Qatar government, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol director ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro, for facilitating the travel of his compatriots, especially the Covid-19 test and aircraft clearance. The embassy, in close collaboration between the Ugandan embassy in Doha, Qatar and the Ugandan government, had repatriated 238 Ugandans on July 18.
Another batch of Ugandans is expected to be repatriated in early-August, according to the envoy. Dr Chebrot said such collaboration would further strengthen the excellent bilateral relations between Qatar and Uganda. Apart from Ugandans in Doha, a number of Ugandan expatriates from other countries such as Japan, Australia and Lebanon, who had been stranded, were also included on the July 18 flight.
A number of community leaders from the Uganda Peninsula Community Qatar (UPCQ) led by its chairman Benson Akampumuza were present at HIA Friday to see off their compatriots.
Akampumuza and his team thanked the embassy “for the remarkable support towards the successful repatriation” of their compatriots.
The UPCQ official also cited the efforts of Richard Otto and Jacob Bamwesigye, and "all camp representatives for the excellent work done in co-ordination with all the community members to have a successful repatriation."
“We shall continue uniting all Ugandans in Qatar as we strengthen the culture and bonds among us and other communities,” Akampumuza stressed.
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