KAMPALA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has turned down an offer by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine to repatriate stuck in China.
On April 15, Bobi Wine wrote to Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, saying said he has partnered with an American media owner and businessman Neil Nelson to evacuate 285 people from China including Ugandans and other black Africans.
Bobi Wine said they have secured a privately chartered Quantam Jet Airbus A330-200 to repatriate the people and urged government to allow them into the country.
But State minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello told URN that the responsibility of protecting the Ugandans abroad lies with the Head of State.
“If any Ugandan succeeds and achieves, it’s the responsibility of the President of Uganda, if any Uganda dies abroad, this is also the responsibility of the President of Uganda. Does he have the capacity to be held responsible for all of this, no? This is a foreign policy issue that you do not just wake up to do,” Oryem is quoted by URN as saying.
According to Oryem, the government is currently registering Ugandans abroad, in America, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
Oryem questioned if Kyagulanyi will meet the quarantine costs.
Oryem also wondered if Kyagulanyi will also transport Ugandans stuck in other parts of the world.
Joel Ssenyonyi the Spokesperson People Power says that Kyagulanyi and his partners will cater for all of the costs, including the quarantine and feeding. He says the government should not ignore its citizens suffering abroad.
