Government to rescue 87 Ugandans held in Türkiye

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that, in collaboration with the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara, it is actively working to ensure the freedom of the detained Ugandans.

Vincent Wasswa Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, revealed that as many as 87 Ugandans are presently being held at different detention facilities, including Hannandali, Silvre, Tuzla, Erzurum 1, Erzurum 2, and Edirne.

The majority of these individuals were apprehended for exceeding the permitted duration of their visas in the West Asian nation.

According to Bagiire, officials from the Ugandan Embassy have already conducted visits to these detention centers, extending the necessary consular and legal aid.

“Following these Consular visits, a total of 87 Ugandans have been identified and confirmed by the Officials of the Ugandan Embassy in Turkiye to have been detained by the Turkish Authorities due to overstaying their visas which is in breach of the Immigration regulations of the Republic of Turkiye,” the PS said in a statement.

“The Ministry wishes to assure the general public of its commitment to continue engaging with the relevant Turkish authorities to find a mutually acceptable solution to address these concerns and the affected families will be updated in due course."

The detention of these Ugandan citizens in Turkey was initially reported earlier this week following a crackdown on undocumented migrants in the country.

Uganda's Ambassador to Turkey, Nusura Tiperu, noted that this operation has led to the apprehension of numerous foreign nationals from various countries.

The detained foreign individuals may face various penalties, including potential sentences of up to 5 years if convicted, immediate deportation, and a ban on re-entry into the country.