Government has dismissed reports that Turkey based Ugandan blogger and government critic, Fred Lumbuye has been killed in the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria this week.
The death toll in the quakes has risen to 23,000.
There have been fabricated social media reports that Lumbuye died in the devastating quakes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Friday night statement dismissed this as “not true.”
“Ministry wishes to further clarify that there are no reported deaths of any Ugandans and the information circulating on various social media platforms relating to the death of Mr. Fred Lumbuye as a result of this earthquake is not true,” reads the Ministry statement.
The Ministry announced that 3 Ugandan nationals were affected by the deadly earthquakes.
“According to the information availed, three (03) Ugandans in Diyarbakr, Türkiye were affected. One (01) of them sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Malatic City and he is responding well,” the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads in part.
The Ministry added that the Uganda Embassy in Ankara – Türkiye is in constant communication with the authorities of the Government of Türkiye and the leadership of the Uganda community in Türkiye to establish those who have been affected by the aftermath of these earthquakes and offer the necessary assistance to all the distressed Ugandan Nationals in the affected areas.
The majority of Ugandans in Türkiye reside in Ankara, Istanbul, Konya, Izmir, and Antalya which cities were not affected.
In the aftermath of the quakes, videos of two Ugandan girls circulated on social media expressing distress, and asking for help from their government.
In response, the Ministry said that two were contacted by officials of the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara, and remain in constant communication to offer the required support.
The Ministry urged all Ugandans in Türkiye to reach out to Uganda Embassy in Ankara Türkiye vis email: Ugandaembassyturkey@gmail.com and/or Tel: +905396440840, +905313468102 for consular support.
“The Ministry together with the Uganda Embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor and follow up on its nationals in Türkiye and provide regular updates. The general public is requested to provide information on any affected Ugandan on the following contacts.”