MUSEVENI IN TALKS WITH RAMAPHOSA OVER IMMIGRATION ATTACKS

President Museveni and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.

NILE POST

President Museveni is engaging his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa over the recent wave of xenophobic attacks as more than 1,000 Ugandans repatriated from South Africa begin patriotism and reintegration training at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.

President Museveni is holding high-level talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to push for an end to xenophobic attacks targeting foreigners, including Ugandans living in South Africa.

The development was disclosed on Friday by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja while addressing 1,030 Ugandans repatriated from South Africa following the recent violence targeting foreign nationals.

The returnees are currently undergoing patriotism and civic orientation training at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi ahead of their reintegration into communities across the country.

Nabbanja said although some South Africans had turned against fellow Africans, Uganda would not respond in kind.

She said President Museveni was directly engaging President Ramaphosa to ensure South African authorities take action to stop the harassment and attacks against foreigners, including Ugandans.

“We cannot retaliate against South Africans because that is not who we are. Instead, President Museveni is engaging President Ramaphosa to ensure such acts come to an end,” Nabbanja said.

She added that the government could not stand by as Ugandans suffered abroad, prompting the decision to organise their voluntary repatriation.

“The government could not sit back and watch Ugandans continue to suffer. That is why we organised their return to their motherland,” she said.

Nabbanja urged the returnees to seize the opportunity to rebuild their lives by participating in government wealth creation initiatives and contributing to the country’s development.

She encouraged them to take advantage of programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and other livelihood initiatives aimed at improving household incomes.

The patriotism training at Kyankwanzi forms part of the government’s reintegration programme, which seeks to equip the returnees with civic values, national consciousness and practical guidance before they return to their respective communities.

The government has so far repatriated more than 1,000 Ugandans from South Africa following the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence, with officials saying the exercise was undertaken voluntarily to ensure the safety and welfare of affected citizens.