Sudan Conflict: Joy as Gen Kainerugaba Welcomes Ugandan Evacuees

The Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on Thursday morning received over 200 Ugandans that fled the deadly fighting in Sudan.

Gen Kainerugaba, who is the overall commander of the evacuation plan, thanked the Government of Ethiopia for allowing the safe evacuation of the Ugandans through its airspace.

He also thanked the Special Forces Command (SFC) officers and diplomats for ensuring the process was seamlessly conducted.

Gen Kainerugaba arrived at Entebbe International Airport two hours before Uganda Airlines landed at the VVIP section at 2:30am.

Those who needed healthcare were taken care of before being offered further transportation to their various destinations.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 211 Ugandans living and working in Sudan were evacuated.

The evacuees, who were in the company of Ambassador Joseph Ocwet, the director general of ESO -- included diplomats, students, and business expatriates. They were flown from Bahir Dar Airport in Northern Ethiopia.

Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, Uganda's Ambassador to Khartoum said: "Allow me to appreciate His Excellency, the  President and Government of Uganda for all the efforts which have been made to make sure that a number of 211 Ugandans have been evacuated today from Bahir Dar Airport in Ethiopia."

On April 15, armed clashes erupted between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in heavily populated parts of the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other cities including in the Darfur region.

The clashes came after weeks of rising tensions between the two forces over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government and were preceded by the SAF and RSF jointly overthrowing Sudan’s transitional government in October 2021.

President Yoweri Museveni recently condemned the misuse of force in the Sudan conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire.

"I join my comrades, the Heads of State of IGAD to express our deep concerns on the current situation in Sudan and immediately call for a cessation of hostilities between the two sides," President Yoweri Museveni said.

"I condemn the misuse of force in a situation that undermines all progress made through dialogue over the last many months. We cannot keep papering over mistakes of unprincipled politics year after year." 

President Museveni said the fire should be ceased "to stop the tragedy and mockery of Africa" because it "is of utmost importance."

President Museveni made the remarks during an emergency virtual closed meeting of the member Heads of State and governments to discuss how best to de-escalate the situation and restore calm in Sudan. It was convened by the Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu