Ugandans trapped in Myanmar as repatriation efforts stall
Ambassador Betty Bigombe, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, and Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs. PHOTO/COMBO
What you need to know:
- Ms Bigombe encouraged the government to ensure there are psycho-social and economic rehabilitation plans for the returnees, to enable them to heal from traumatic experiences and also empower them with the skills to start new lives from the harrowing experiences they passed through in East Asian slavery.
The Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Muwada Nkunyingi, has asked the government to expedite efforts to have the 25 stranded Ugandans in Myanmar repatriated. Mr Nkunyingi said the group that was trafficked and held in cyber scam centres was released from Myanmar, but remains stranded at the Myanmar-Thailand border pending repatriation.
Mr Muwada told the Monitor in an interview on May 13 that the government has not put in much effort to repatriate them, despite being cleared by Myanmar leaders.
“The government has been so reluctant; it has failed to showcase a willingness to support the repatriation of these nationals. They were trafficked; some are in a dire health condition and require a lot of medication, but they remain helpless. Other countries sent repatriation flights for their nationals. Unfortunately for Uganda, there has never been a singular repatriation of flights for the few who were released,” Mr Muwada said.
In February, Thailand and Myanmar conducted a joint operation to curb human trafficking activities operating on the Thai-Myanmar border, an operation that left thousands recovered from online slavery, including Ugandans.
Mr Muwada attributed the repatriation delays to a lack of coordination between the Ugandan government and the NGOs, stating that many face frustrations in attempting to help Ugandans, hence delaying the process. He claimed that NGOs that wished to offer air tickets were frustrated by the Ugandan government.
But in a recent interview with Ms Betty Bigombe, Uganda’s ambassador to Thailand, she said 25 Ugandans are expected to be repatriated, saying as the head of Uganda’s mission in Malaysia and Thailand, she always conducts consultations and engagement meetings with the Thai-Myanmar authorities on the repatriation plans.
Ms Bigombe added that the repatriations call for the involvement of all relevant parties of Thailand and Myanmar, and there are guidelines to be followed.
She encouraged the government to ensure there are psycho-social and economic rehabilitation plans for the returnees, to enable them to heal from traumatic experiences and also empower them with the skills to start new lives from the harrowing experiences they passed through in East Asian slavery.
