Ugandans who were stuck in in Khartoum City and surrounding areas due to the ongoing heavy fighting between rival government military forces have been evacuated, Plus News has learnt.
This development is as a result of deliberate efforts by government of Uganda through the country’s embassy in Khartoum to evacuate Ugandan nationals from the crisis that broke out on April 15 this year.
In a statement, Uganda’s Ambassy in Sudan says four buses carrying 208 Ugandan evacuees set off Sunday from the Embassy of Uganda located at Garden City, in Khartoum.
“First, I thank the Almighty God for delivering the Ugandan evacuees through the risky area. I also thank H.E. President Yoweri Museveni, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Secretary and the gallant Embassy Staff, particularly, Brig. Gen. Karara, Mr David Wamono and the Director General, External Security Organisation (ESO), Ambassador Joseph Ecwet, in a special way,” Ambassador Dr Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, Uganda’s Ambassador to Khartoum, Republic of Sudan.
“Special commendations go out to Gen. Katumba Wamala, my colleagues, the Ambassadors from Uganda and elsewhere and staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who have rendered support in various ways.”
We have further established that the evacuees, 208 in number aboard Buses, comprise 110 are men, including male children and 98 are women, including female children. They are also made up of Diplomats, Students and members of the working community.
The conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force (RSF), has claimed over 400 lives with thousands of others injured and millions displaced.
The clashes broke out between erstwhile allies, General Abdel al-Burhan who heads the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF paramilitary group, led by General Mohamed Dagalo.
Several ceasefires that had seemingly been agreed upon by both sides were ignored, including a three-day pause to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which started on Friday.
Last week, Uganda’s ambassador in Khartoum said heavy fighting between rival government military forces had made it very difficult to safely evacuate Ugandans trapped inside Sudan. The notice urged people to lie low as the embassy closely monitored the conflict.