Uganda Airlines | Eddie Kenzo and Other Ugandan Nationals Stranded In West Africa Due to the Covid Pandemic Return Home

A total of 56 Ugandan Nationals and legal residents who had been stranded in West African countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, the Gambia, Niger, the Republic of Guinea and Cameroon due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been successfully repatriated.

Earlier in April, The High Commission undertook the registration process of Ugandan Nationals who were stranded in not only Nigeria but the entire West African Region and coordinated with Uganda Airlines the National carrier for this repatriation flight.

It should be noted that this was Uganda Airline’s 1st maiden flight to the West Africa region. For ease of movement, four assembly points designated hubs were identified i.e. Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) and Doula (Cameroon) to pick up persons in their respective locations.

After fulfilling standard procedures issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, the Ugandans were accompanied by H.E. Nelson Ocheger Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and seen off by staff of the High Commission.

Some of the notable personalities on this flight was renowned BET Award winner Music Star, Mr. Musuuza Edrisah also known as Eddie Kenzo who had gone for a concert tour in Cote d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast before the closure of Entebbe International Airport to commercial passenger flights on 22nd March 2020. Other categories of people including Professionals, Academics, students and businessmen/businesswomen who live and or work in a number of West African Countries were also aboard this flight.

The High Commissioner appreciated the efforts of, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Airlines, Ministry of Health and all other Government Departments who made this repatriation possible and also thanked the Ugandans for their patience and enduring during this difficult period.

Amb Ocheger also thanked the Host Countries in West Africa for having treated Ugandans well during their time of stay in the respective Countries. The group was received at Entebbe Airport by officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Uganda Airlines and Civil Aviation Authority.

Source – Photo credit Fahad Mugga, Public Diplomacy Dept. Ministry of Foreign Affairs