Govt urges Ugandans in Israel to evacuate amid rising tensions

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The Government of Uganda, through its consulate in Israel, has urged Ugandan nationals residing in the country to consider immediate evacuation options due to the rapidly deteriorating military situation and the partial closure of Israel’s airspace, as the Iran-Israel conflict enters its 10th day.

In a statement shared via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official account on X (formerly Twitter), Ugandans were advised to exit Israel through the Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge crossing into Jordan, from where they can travel via Amman Airport to Addis Ababa and Entebbe on Ethiopian Airlines.

"Ugandan nationals can exit Israel through the Allenby Bridge (King Hussein Bridge) into Jordan, then proceed to Amman Airport for onward travel via Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa and Entebbe," the statement read.

The advisory noted that Ugandan passport holders are eligible for visas on arrival at the Allenby Bridge crossing, provided their passports are valid for at least six months and there are no prior immigration violations or bans.

Ethiopian Airlines, which continues operating, was recommended, as other carriers like Emirates, Ryanair, and Flydubai have suspended flights from Israel. Nationals were urged to book early due to limited seat availability.

Ugandans were further advised to follow safety guidance issued by Israel's Home Front Command (Pikud HaOref), download the official safety app for real-time alerts, and seek shelter when sirens sound, especially in high-risk areas such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Be’er Sheva.

For urgent support, citizens are directed to contact Yaron Tamir, Uganda’s Honorary Consul in Israel. The consulate reiterated its commitment to remain in contact with both Ugandan and Israeli authorities throughout the ongoing crisis.

The evacuation advisory comes against the backdrop of unprecedented military escalation in the region, following recent strikes by the United States that severely damaged three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the strikes mark the most significant use of U.S. strategic air power in years and were carried out with over 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and a guided missile submarine.

According to U.S. military officials, the B-2s deployed 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators—30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs capable of reaching underground targets up to 200 feet deep.

Additionally, a U.S. submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting surface infrastructure in Isfahan, one of the nuclear sites hit. The operation marks the combat debut of the GBU-57.

Ugandans in Iran

The ongoing tensions have also affected Ugandans living in Iran. On Friday, 45 Ugandans, mostly students, were successfully evacuated from Tehran to Istanbul by the Government of Uganda.

The group, largely from Ahlul Bayt International University and Allameh Tabataba’i University, was mobilised by student leader Isaac Nimwesiga and evacuated following coordination with Charge d'Affaires Twaha Matata and the foreign affairs permanent secretary, Vincent Bagiire.

The students travelled over 900km from southern Tehran to the Bazargan-Gurbulak border, where they were received by Ugandan embassy officials on both the Iranian and Turkish sides.

They continued on a 22-hour road trip to Istanbul, where they checked into All Seasons Hotel, awaiting a chartered return flight to Entebbe. The government has covered their meals and accommodation.

Bagiire called on Ugandans still in Iran to reconsider staying behind, as the government’s capacity to evacuate might diminish with time.

“Safety of all Ugandan citizens abroad is of paramount importance and core to the work of the ministry,” Bagiire said, reaffirming President Yoweri Museveni’s directive to facilitate the safe return of citizens in conflict zones.