Uganda, Zimbabwe Provide Support to South Africa Xenophobia Returnees

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met 1,030 Ugandan citizens who returned from South Africa after xenophobic attacks and announced a cash grant of Shs2 million per family and a Shs2 billion injection into their SACCO to help restart businesses. He urged the use of government wealth‑creation programmes and said Uganda would pursue compensation from South African authorities, citing a phone conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Zimbabwe’s government reported that more than 108,000 Zimbabweans have repatriated from South Africa, with 15,065 already registered for employment across 52 occupations such as domestic work, bricklaying and farming. The reintegration effort includes skills registration, healthcare at a Reception Centre Clinic that has treated 1,474 returnees, and transport assistance via 416 bus trips from the Beitbridge Repatriation Centre. Authorities plan to continue social, economic and cultural integration of the returnees.

Both countries are mobilising financial, health and logistical resources to support thousands of citizens displaced by the South African xenophobia incidents.