By Bicholin K Musisi;
Uganda’s military has evacuated 43 Ugandan students from Iran following escalating hostilities in the Middle East, as Kampala steps up efforts to safeguard its nationals amid intensifying tensions between Tehran, the United States and Israel.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) said Monday that the students, who had been stranded in Tehran, were safely evacuated through Turkey.
“The UPDF, through our Defence Advisor in Turkey, Major General Bob Ogiki, has successfully evacuated 43 Ugandan students who were stranded in Tehran (Iran),”
“They are now safe in Turkey waiting to return home.”
Ugandan authorities said they are continuing to identify and assist other nationals who may still be in Iran.
The government has not disclosed how many Ugandans remain in the country but said coordination is ongoing through diplomatic and defence channels.
The evacuation follows a sharp escalation after large-scale strikes targeted Iranian sites over the weekend, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks across parts of the Gulf and heightened security alerts.
In a recent security notice, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Uganda was monitoring developments “with grave concern.”
“The Government of Uganda calls on all parties to exercise restraint, prioritize dialogue, and refrain from any further escalation,” Bagiire said in the statement dated Feb. 28.
He advised all Ugandan citizens in Iran who are able to leave “to take serious precautions for their safety and depart through any possible means,” adding that Kampala had withdrawn non-essential staff from its embassy in Tehran and that consular services were severely limited.
“Due to the extremely fluid situation that is affecting international travel, all Ugandan citizens are strongly advised to suspend travel to the Middle East until further notice,” Bagiire said.
Airspace restrictions and heightened border controls in parts of the Middle East have complicated evacuation efforts for multiple countries, with airlines suspending or rerouting flights amid security assessments.
Uganda has previously mounted evacuation operations during international crises, including the Sudan conflict and instability in Libya, often combining diplomatic coordination with military logistics.
Officials did not immediately indicate when the evacuated students would return to Kampala, though arrangements are said to be underway.
The situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with global powers urging restraint to prevent a wider regional conflict that could further disrupt transport, energy markets and trade corridors linking Africa, Asia and Europe.
