More than 1,000 Ugandans who recently returned from South Africa following xenophobic attacks are undergoing a government rehabilitation and orientation program aimed at helping them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities.
The returnees are receiving training at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi, where officials say the program is focused on restoring confidence, promoting patriotism and encouraging participants to explore opportunities at home after losing livelihoods abroad.
Hellen Seku, commissioner for the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps at State House, said the initiative has encouraged many participants to reconsider their future in Uganda after being forced to flee South Africa.
According to Seku, the group includes 1,030 people made up of 438 men, 261 women and 331 children between infancy and 16 years of age. Many arrived after leaving behind businesses, jobs and personal belongings during the outbreak of xenophobic violence.
For many families, the return marked the end of years spent building lives in another country. Some arrived with little more than the belongings they could carry, facing the challenge of starting over while supporting children and other dependents.
Government officials say the orientation program is intended to help participants adapt to life back home by strengthening their understanding of civic responsibility, national identity and available economic opportunities. The broader goal is to encourage self reliance and support long term reintegration into Ugandan society.
Uganda has periodically received citizens returning from countries affected by unrest or insecurity, with authorities often combining emergency assistance with reintegration programs designed to help returnees transition back into local communities.
Officials say the success of such efforts will ultimately depend on the availability of employment, business opportunities and community support as families work to rebuild their lives after displacement.
