The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), acting through its Defence Advisor in Turkey, Major General Bob Ogiki, has successfully evacuated 43 Ugandan students who had been stranded in Tehran, Iran, following a sharp escalation in regional hostilities.
The students were safely transferred from the Iranian capital to Turkey, where they are currently secure and awaiting arrangements for their return to Uganda. Officials described the operation as swift and carefully coordinated amid rapidly deteriorating security conditions.
This evacuation followed joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes over the weekend that struck multiple locations across Iran, including Tehran. The strikes resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering immediate retaliatory actions by Tehran and plunging the region into heightened alert.
Ugandan authorities said the extraction of the students marks a critical first phase of a broader effort to safeguard Ugandan nationals caught up in the unfolding conflict. Security and diplomatic teams are continuing to identify and establish contact with other Ugandans who may still be within Iranian territory.
Officials emphasized that government agencies are working closely with international partners to coordinate safe passage routes and ensure that all affected citizens are evacuated as soon as possible.
The government has also urged Ugandans abroad to remain in close contact with their respective embassies and adhere strictly to official security advisories during the ongoing crisis.
