Uganda is set to receive the first batch of Afghan refugees tomorrow, according to the Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Eng Hilary Onek.
Onek revealed that the first batch will comprise of 140 people. He said the group will not be treated as refugees since the US has full responsibility over them. The group will first be tested for Covid-19 and then placed in isolation centers before being reintegrated.
The minister ruled out the possibility of them being taken to refugee settlement areas as he stated that they will be temporarily accommodated in hotels in Entebbe before they are taken to a yet to be identified location.
Our sources reveal that the refugees will be enjoying the spacious and luxurious hotels in Entebbe as their temporaray homes.
Earlier this week, government agreed to host at least 2,000 refugees fleeing Afghanistan following the collapse of President Ashraf Ghani’s government.
The first batch was expected on Wednesday this week but Foreign Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo disclosed that the relevant authorities were still scrutinizing the kind of people the country is about to host.