Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A total of 1,500 Ugandans illegally staying in the UAE after their visa expired were allowed to go home without paying fines, the Ugandan ambassador said. Among those whose fines were waived were runaway domestic helpers. Others were victims of human trafficking, said Ugandan Ambassador to the UAE Zaake W Kibede. Kibede said the fine waiver is part of a government initiative that began in August to help Africans who overstayed their visa return to their home country without paying fines. The ambassador said that majority of those who availed of the waiver were able to return home after the UAE government provided them with airline tickets. He said that most Ugandans who availed of the waiver came to the UAE on visit visa to look for work. Others were domestic helpers who fled unfavourable work conditions with employers. Kibede said that of the 1,500 Ugandans who availed of the waiver, 350 were men while the rest were women. The last batch of Ugandans who sought the overstay waiver consisted of 160 people flown on Fly Dubai and Air Arabia flights paid for by the UAE government. There are approximately 100,000 Ugandans living and working in the UAE, according to the Ugandan Embassy. ICA/Expat Media
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