By Mike Sebalu
Government says it has not received any more requests from Ugandans in Khartoum who want to be repatriated. The state brought back a total of 211 Ugandans who were trapped in the conflict-hit Sudan on April 27, from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar Airport.
The evacuees, who included diplomats, students, and business expatriates, reached Entebbe Airport aboard a Uganda Airlines plane at the expense of government.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Henry Okello Oryem says government is satisfied that all Ugandans who wanted to leave Sudan have left.
“We pulled out 211 Ugandans those who registered and wanted to come out and I have not heard of any Ugandans requesting to come out. So, we are satisfied we have pulled out all the Ugandans who wanted to come out,” Oryem said.
“When Afghanistan fell down, many Ugandans chose not to leave. So, we made it very clear as government of Uganda that the repatriation from Sudan was voluntary, so everybody who wanted to leave was given opportunity to do so and were repatriated appropriately,” he added.
The Minister was speaking at the opening of a new financial institution branch for Goldmine Finance Limited in Ntinda on Wednesday.
On the ongoing fighting in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, Oryem further called for dialogue between the two factions.
He said this is the only way to avoid loss of lives and property due to the ongoing fighting.
“What is important in Sudan is that we are calling on the two main parties at loggerheads and of course the situation of war leading to loss of lives and a lot of damage to property and imaginable consequences, we are urging them to stop the fighting, sit down, dialogue and listen to the AU and IGAD solutions to bring to an end this horrific situation in Sudan,” Oryem noted.
At the function, the Minister implored the youth to transform the ideas in their minds into successful projects in a bid to better their lives.
“What am encouraging young people is that there are a lot of opportunities outside seeking just jobs, there a lot of opportunities just lamenting to government if you put your heart in it, if you are consistent, if you are determined,” he emphasized.
Speaking at the same function, the compliance officer of Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority, Ezra Balihamwe warned financial institutions against over-indebtedness, being one of the biggest challenges faced today.
“The biggest challenge financial institutions are facing today is because of over-indebtedness of the clients. We don’t have CRB for institutions under Tier 4 and borrowers picking money from different institutions and fail to pay, this has tainted the market and it calls for a deep analysis and understanding of the client if you are to give out a good loan,” Balihamwe said.
“We are aware that anybody can give out a loan but not everybody can recover a loan. And if you are not so sensitive as far as lending is concerned you stand to lose,” he added.
Goldmine Finance Limited’s Mr. Allan Tayebwa said their new branch in Ntinda reflects commitment to delivering innovative financial solutions and personalised services to meet the evolving needs of their customers.
