Winniefred Kabiri boarded a flight from Johannesburg to Kampala in early July, clutching only what she could fit in two suitcases. The Ugandan businesswoman had spent 20 years in South Africa, building a life now forced to abandon. During that time, she had completed advanced degrees, launched multiple companies, and raised her children. Now, she was starting over, with little more than her experience and resilience.
'There was always a threat,' Kabiri explained. 'But this year, they gave ultimatums.' She was one of the first 1,102 Ugandans repatriated through a government-led evacuation following months of violence and harassment targeting African migrants in South Africa.
A climate turned hostile
South Africa has struggled with anti-immigrant hostility since the 1990s, often attributing economic problems to foreign competition. But in 2026, the situation worsened. Groups demanding harsher policies organized public demonstrations and launched aggressive campaigns. Stories of threats, broken windows, and burned businesses made foreign entrepreneurs feel increasingly unsafe.
Kabiri had built a network of professional contacts and had investments in mining, real estate, and perfume manufacturing. But when the ultimatums arrived, she had no option but to flee. Many others did the same, forced to abandon their livelihoods and assets.
Losses in Johannesburg
Mathias Baguma, another Ugandan returnee, described his own devastation. He had moved to South Africa in 2017 and invested in a guesthouse, a restaurant, and a small retail store. 'My shop was robbed, the restaurant broken into,' Baguma said. 'I had to run for my life.'
Baguma, like Kabiri, had come to South Africa with hopes of opportunity. But he returned to Uganda with only personal belongings and the memories of a life he could not reclaim. The dream of economic success in a foreign land had turned into a painful return.
Rebuilding in Uganda
Upon return to Uganda, the struggle shifted from fleeing to rebuilding. Authorities greeted returning migrants at Entebbe airport and provided reintegration services, including counseling, health evaluations, and information on support programs. Officials also connected returnees to initiatives in agriculture, tourism, and small-business development to help them restart.
Kabiri said the initial assistance had been encouraging, but the task of rebuilding after two decades abroad remains difficult. 'I have to rebuild myself,' she said. 'I need to build a new home and a business.' Although family has offered emotional support, the financial challenges are clear. She is exploring new possibilities but acknowledges the road ahead is long and uncertain.
For now, Kabiri has a simple outlook. But the phrase carries deeper meaning for someone who lived another country for 20 years, only to leave it behind under duress.
The Ugandan government has worked to provide transport, reception centers, and psychosocial support to returnees, as noted by DW correspondent Frank Yiga. Kabiri, while optimistic, still faces the challenge of adapting to a new reality.
The situation in South Africa continues to reflect broader issues of inequality and economic frustration, as explained by analysts. Despite evidence that migrants contribute to local economies, they remain targets of anger tied to unemployment and strained public services. Kabiri and others like her are left to pick up the pieces of a life that once seemed secure.
The returnees' stories highlight the high cost of xenophobia and the resilience required to rebuild after significant loss. Kabiri's journey from Johannesburg to Kampala symbolizes both the struggles and hopes of many African migrants who found their opportunities upended by hostility far from home.