Ugandans Among Injured in the ongoing Iran-UAE Attacks:
Ugandan nationals are among those injured in the ongoing missile and drone attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the risks faced by the country’s large diaspora community as tensions with Iran escalate.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems on March 14 intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones launched from Iran, successfully neutralizing the incoming threats before they reached their targets.
Authorities said the attacks are part of a broader wave of strikes that have intensified in recent weeks.
UAE air defences dealt with nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones coming from Iran,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the armed forces remain on “high alert and readiness to deal with any threats.”
Since the start of what Emirati officials described as “brazen Iranian attacks,” UAE air defence systems have intercepted 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and about 1,600 drones, underscoring the scale of the aerial assault.
Despite the interceptions, the attacks have caused casualties among residents and workers from multiple countries.
According to the Ministry of Defence, six people — Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals — have been killed, while 141 others sustained minor to moderate injuries.
Those injured include nationals from Uganda, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden, reflecting the multinational workforce that lives in the Gulf state.
The presence of Ugandans among the injured has drawn attention to the country’s rapidly growing diaspora in the UAE.
More than 160,000 Ugandans are now living and working in the United Arab Emirates, according to recent diplomatic figures, a sharp rise from about 40,000 in 2018 as labour migration to the Gulf accelerated.
Many Ugandans are employed in sectors such as hospitality, aviation services, construction, security, logistics and domestic work.
The Ministry of Defence affirms that it is on high alert and readiness to deal with any threats and to firmly confront everything that targets undermining the security of the state,” the ministry said.
Officials added that the armed forces will continue acting to ensure “the preservation of the UAE’s sovereignty, security and stability, and the protection of its national interests and capabilities.”
For Uganda, the situation underscores the vulnerability of its large diaspora population in the Gulf, which plays a critical role in the country’s economy through remittances and labour exports.
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