Uganda Expresses ‘Serious Concern Over Mistreatment & Harassment’ Of Ugandans In China

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa (R) met China’s ambassador to Uganda, Zhuqiang today morning

Uganda has expressed dissatisfaction to Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zheng Zhuqiang over mistreatment and harassment of Ugandans in China.

This happened during a meeting held on Saturday between Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and China’s ambassador to Uganda, Zhuqiang.

The meeting sought to seek intervention from China regarding the alleged mistreatment of Ugandans who together with other Africans say they have become targets of suspicion and subjected to forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing as the country steps up its fight against imported infections.

A statement from Foreign Affairs Ministry reads: “The Minister (Kutesa) conveyed the serious concern of the government of Uganda on the harassment and mistreatment of its nationals. He called on Government of China to urgently intervene and address the plight of Ugandans in China.”

According to the statement, the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda  assured the Minister that China values its relationship with Uganda and other African countries.

“He (Zhuqiang) said that the Government was taking steps to address the matter and undertook to take up the concerns of the Government of Uganda with the relevant authorities in China,” the statement says.

The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Patrick Mugoya and Uganda’s ambassador to China Dr. Crispus Kiyonga.

It should be noted that yesterday,  Kampala Central Member of Parliament, Muhammad Nsereko asked Government to urgently evacuate Ugandans stranded in China after reports emerged that they’re suffering xenophobic attacks in China.

Nsereko revealed that he has received calls from Ugandans stranded in China and other Arab countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) after local residents in those countries descended on them, asking foreign workers to go back to their mother countries, blaming them for the spread of  COVID-19 pandemic.

 “Government should come out categorically clear because China is one of our biggest trading partners. If they don’t want our people to be in their country, they’re free to let us repatriate our people home so that we can give our people a dignified life,” Nsereko said.

He said that Ugandans narrated the inhumane treatment they’re facing, where in some cases, Ugandans have been evicted from their residences and denied use of public transport after the host countries got overwhelmed with feeding and accommodating them yet they are no longer working due to the global shut down.

“But equally, we shall resort in future, that if they resort to repatriating our people, we shall also ask peacefully for them to leave our country,” said Nsereko.