First batch of Afghan refugees to arrive in Uganda on Sunday
The Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Eng Hilary Onek, has confirmed that the first batch of asylum seekers from Afghanistan will arrive in Uganda on Sunday. Onek was appearing on a local radio station talk show when he revealed that the first flight will carry about 140 people. He said subsequent flights will then follow. He said the Afghan nationals will not be treated as refugees since they are in transit to the US. They will not be taken to refugee settlement areas. They will, therefore, be accommodated at various hotels in Entebbe before being processed for their final destination. Early this week, it was revealed that Uganda agreeing to host about 2,000 Afghan nationals at the request of the US. Although they were expected to arrive on Wednesday, the government said modalities were still being worked out before the first batch could land at Entebbe International Airport. Thousands of refugees have been evacuated from Afghanistan following the government