A group of Ugandan students evacuated from Iran have described the terrifying moments they experienced as air strikes shook the country during the escalating Middle East conflict.
Forty-three Ugandan students arrived safely back home at Entebbe International Airport after being repatriated by their government following a series of attacks linked to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The evacuation was organised by Uganda’s ambassador in Tehran, who arranged for the students to travel by bus to the Turkish border before they were flown from Istanbul back to Uganda.
Many of the students said they were traumatised by the bombing campaign that unfolded near their places of study. Sharon Twiine, a 29-year-old student who had been studying international relations at Ahlul Bayt International University in Tehran, said the experience left her shaken.
“It was scary and traumatising, and I wouldn’t wish anyone to experience it,” she said after arriving home.
Another student, Oscar Nyegyema, said explosions were heard close to their university, describing how the force of nearby strikes could be felt where they were staying.
“We could hear the ground trembling and shaking. We were all scared and devastated, and we didn’t know whether we would make it out,” he said.
Despite the ordeal, some of the students indicated they hope to return to Iran to complete their studies once the situation stabilises. Nyegyema said he still intends to finish his programme when conditions allow.
Others explained that a number of Ugandan students decided to remain in Iran even after evacuation arrangements were offered. According to fellow student Aloisius Ssegawa, some were worried that returning home might disrupt their education and waste the years they had already spent pursuing their degrees.
For Twiine, however, the experience has left lasting emotional scars. She said although she remains passionate about her studies, she may need time and possibly therapy to recover from the trauma caused by the bombings.
The evacuation comes as governments across the world continue to assist their citizens in leaving Iran and neighbouring countries amid escalating military strikes and growing fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.
