South Africa says perpetrators of xenophobic attacks are enemies of gov’t

What the report says

The Observer reports that President Yoweri Museveni said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told him that people behind recent xenophobic attacks on African migrants were opponents of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, not representatives of government policy. Museveni made the remarks on Sunday at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi during a pass-out ceremony for 1,030 Ugandans evacuated from South Africa.

According to the report, Museveni said he had urged Ramaphosa to act firmly against xenophobia, warning that reprisals between African countries would harm the continent. He also appealed to Ugandans not to target South Africans living or doing business in Uganda, saying the violence should not damage relations between the two countries.

The Observer says the returnees were flown home by Uganda Airlines after attacks on foreign African nationals and then spent 15 days at NALI for counselling, rehabilitation and ideological orientation under a programme coordinated by the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps. Acting Foreign Affairs state minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo said three Ugandans were killed, more than 600 Ugandans remained registered as stranded in South Africa, and Uganda had opened diplomatic discussions with Pretoria on losses to Ugandan property and businesses.

Museveni announced support measures including a Shs 2 billion fund for the returnees, Shs 2 million for each household head to travel to home districts, and Shs 10 million for each bereaved family. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described the evacuation as a major humanitarian intervention for Ugandans abroad and said another 525 Ugandans stranded in Cambodia had sought help to return.