By Nasser Kasozi Akandwanaho
The Ugandan star and BET Award winner Edirisa Musuuza commonly known as Eddy Kenzo and other 56 Ugandans who had been stranded in West African and other countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been successfully repatriated back home.
Edrisah Musuuza also known as Eddie Kenzo who had gone for a concert tour in Cote d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast before the closure of Entebbe International Airport to commercial passenger flights on 22nd March 2020.
The Uganda airliner took off time to collect Board off all the Ugandan who were stranded in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin,Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, the Gambia, Niger, the Republic of Guinea and Cameroon and Eddy Kenzo were part of those who were stranded in west Africa.
Earlier in April, The High Commission undertook the registration process of Ugandan Nationals who were stranded in not only Nigeria but the entire West African Region and coordinated with Uganda Airlines the National carrier for this repatriation flight.
After fulfilling standard procedures issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, the Ugandans were accompanied by H.E. Nelson Ocheger Ugandans High Commissioner to Nigeria and seen off by staff of the High Commission
It should be noted that this was Uganda Airline’s 1st maiden flight to the West Africa region. For ease of movement, four assembly points designated hubs were identified i.e. Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) and Doula (Cameroon) to pick up persons in their respective locations.
Other categories of people including Professionals, Academics, students and businessmen/businesswomen who live and or work in a number of West African Countries were also aboard this flight
The High Commissioner appreciated the efforts of, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Airlines, Ministry of Health and all other Government Departments who made this repatriation possible and also thanked the Ugandans for their patience and enduring during this difficult period.
Ambassador Nelson Ocheger also thanked the Host Countries in West Africa for having treated Ugandans well during their time of stay in the respective Countries.
The group was received at Entebbe Airport by officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Uganda Airlines and Civil Aviation Authority.
