More than 500 Ugandan students in Israel, along with a few businesspeople, remain stranded as the war between Israel and Iran stretches into its second week. The ongoing missile strikes and heightened military action have forced governments and embassies to urgently plan evacuations.
Officials at the Israeli Embassy in Nairobi, which oversees Uganda and neighboring countries, estimate that around 500 Ugandans currently reside in Israel based on visa records. However, exact figures remain uncertain.
Ambassador Michael Lotem confirmed in a press briefing held in Kampala that the embassy is coordinating with Uganda to arrange repatriation. He said efforts focus on routing evacuees through Egypt, where Uganda maintains an embassy responsible for consular affairs in Israel.
Deputy Ambassador Ariel Arviv echoed the estimate. “We have records showing that at least 500 Ugandan students and nationals are in Israel. While the number isn’t exact, that’s our best approximation,” she said.
Arviv added that many Israeli citizens in Uganda also face challenges returning home. “Flights remain grounded. Some of our people here have children hiding in shelters in Israel. It’s a very difficult time. We are exploring all available routes to get them home safely.”
Uganda’s Minister of State for International Relations, Mr. Henry Oryem Okello, noted the difficulties caused by the lack of traveler registration. “Most Ugandans abroad never register with our embassies. That creates challenges during emergencies like this,” he said.
Despite this, Uganda’s missions in Cairo and Tel Aviv have started gathering data and communicating with those who registered. “We’re working on voluntary evacuations. Those who want to return will receive assistance, but we won’t force anyone to leave,” Mr. Oryem emphasized.
Ambassador Lotem noted that Israel’s Ministry of Transportation is collaborating with foreign affairs offices from Uganda and other countries to provide safe overland evacuation routes. “Our airspace is closed, so we are advising foreign nationals to work with us via Egypt or Jordan,” he said.
He also advised Ugandans to reach out through official communication channels to plan their exit. Those needing evacuation support can email [email protected], send a message via WhatsApp at +972-53-583-5808, or contact the Israel Virtual Tourist Office on Facebook.
So far, only one Ugandan family has formally requested evacuation of their children, who study at an international high school in Israel. Ambassador Arviv said: “We’re currently helping the family make arrangements with the ministries of transport and foreign affairs. They will likely leave through Egypt or Jordan.”
Uganda’s honorary consul in Tel Aviv is working closely with the embassy in Cairo to support repatriation. Mr. Oryem explained that not all Ugandans are eager to return home. “In past crises, like Afghanistan, many chose to stay and take risks rather than lose their jobs. This pattern continues,” he said.
He added that many Ugandans fear losing employment abroad, which would impact their ability to support families back home.
The current crisis stems from escalating military actions. Last Friday, Israel struck key nuclear and military sites in Iran, killing several senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated by launching coordinated attacks on Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and surrounding areas.
Israel defended the move as a preemptive strike aimed at neutralizing threats from Iran’s missile and nuclear development programs. The regional instability has placed thousands of civilians, including Ugandan students in Israel, in precarious situations.
Uganda’s government continues to urge its citizens abroad to register with embassies for faster response in future emergencies. Efforts to safely evacuate Ugandans from Israel are ongoing and involve both national and international coordination.
