Eight Malaysians stranded in Uganda arrive home

Eight Malaysians, who were reported to have been stranded in Uganda following the closure of the country's border to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, arrived safely home today.

Deputy Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said the repatriation was jointly funded by the Malaysian government and the eight Malaysians.

They departed from Uganda to Tanzania by a special charter flight, and then via a Qatar Airways commercial flight from Tanzania to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), arriving at 8.25 am.

"Upon arrival at KLIA, they underwent a health screening process and will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine in their home in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the government," he said in a statement today.

The Foreign Ministry would like to thank the Malaysian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya and the Malaysian Honorary Consul in Uganda Habib Kagimu, who helped the group when they were stranded and facilitated their return home, he said.

-- BERNAMA