A total of 52 Ugandan students studying in Iran were successfully evacuated and had arrived at Istanbul International Airport in Turkey by yesterday evening, awaiting repatriation to Uganda. Their evacuation comes in response to the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran that erupted last Friday.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire advised Ugandan nationals still in Israel to make their way to the Jordanian border, while those in Tehran were urged to travel to safer countries such as Azerbaijan or Turkey. The ministry confirmed it had coordinated with Iranian authorities to facilitate the secure passage of Ugandans out of affected areas. “We are pleased to confirm that 48 Ugandan students are being evacuated from Tehran,” the statement noted.
The statement also revealed that Uganda had reached out to neighboring countries—Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Jordan—to grant evacuated Ugandans visa-free entry. Additionally, Ugandan embassies in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar were instructed to provide consular support to evacuees as needed.
Iran’s ambassador to Uganda, Majid Saffar, confirmed that the Iranian government arranged the transportation of the 52 students, most of whom were enrolled at Ahlul Bayt International University. The evacuation followed a request by Ugandan authorities for the students’ protection. These students are part of a larger group of over 70 Ugandans who received scholarships to pursue academic programs at the institution beginning in February last year.
Ambassador Saffar stated the students were now en route to Uganda, having crossed the Turkish border, most likely aboard Turkish Airlines. He mentioned that Iran initially proposed relocating the students to a safer area within Turkey temporarily, allowing them to return for examinations once tensions eased. However, Ugandan authorities and families opted instead for full evacuation.
“They are coming back to Uganda. If they haven’t landed yet, they will arrive soon, possibly starting today,” said Saffar. He was unable to confirm whether any Ugandan businesspeople were currently in Iran but expressed hope for their safety.
Reports indicate that 12 students chose not to return. One of them, Abbey Ramathan, pursuing a Master’s in Social Communication, said he and others decided to remain in Tehran after assessing that certain areas of the city were still safe. “The situation here is normal in our neighborhood—people are going about their daily lives,” he explained. “The Ugandan embassy gave us the option to leave, but those of us who stayed are being protected by the university.”
Ramathan added that the university was prepared to evacuate the remaining students to safer locations within Iran should the conflict intensify. He emphasized that students from other nationalities also remained on campus and that the university leadership was actively monitoring the security situation.
The Israel-Iran confrontation has been concentrated mainly in the two nations’ capitals, with each side targeting strategic and military facilities. With air travel suspended in both countries, Ugandans in Tehran are advised to travel roughly seven hours by road to Tabriz in northern Iran, and then cross into Azerbaijan—about 624 kilometers away. An alternative route, albeit longer at approximately 28 hours, leads to the Turkish border.
Professor Adam Ssebyala, a lecturer at Al-Mustapha Islamic College and long-time resident of Tehran, recommended the Turkish route, calling it safer and more flexible. “Unlike Azerbaijan, which is geographically isolated and recently targeted in Israeli airstrikes, the Turkish route offers options to re-route through Sulaymaniyah in Iraq if denied entry,” he advised. “This is a critical window—civilians are still allowed to exit, but that may change quickly.”
Jordan, which borders Israel, is also considered a viable escape route for those stranded in Israel. According to the Israeli Embassy in Kenya, which represents Israel in Uganda, there are approximately 500 Ugandans living in Israel. The exact number of Ugandans in Iran remains uncertain.
Bagiire confirmed his ministry had received numerous distress reports from family members of Ugandans in both Iran and Israel. He assured the public that consular officers would be dispatched to neighboring countries to facilitate the evacuees’ return. However, he noted the challenge of securing transportation amid the current conflict and airspace closures.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working diligently to ensure that all Ugandans stranded in affected regions are safely evacuated. Given the volatile situation and logistical challenges, there may be delays, but every effort is being made to coordinate a secure return,” Bagiire said.
Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Muwada Nkunyingi criticized the Ugandan government for not acting sooner despite early signs of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, accusing it of poor planning and slow response in protecting citizens abroad.