00:07For Munira, nurse Samula, a certified nurse, the journey to Dubai had already begun.
00:13She was airborne and heading to start a new job when the captain announced the flight was turning back.
00:18We were like 16 members. We went to the airport. We did the check-ins and everything.
00:26So we entered and boarded.
00:30When we boarded, everything was fine.
00:33We were like, the airplane took off.
00:38So as we were crossing, I think it was Ethiopia.
00:44We were crossing to Ethiopia.
00:46So the pilot did a communication that we are turning back to Nteve Airport.
00:52I didn't hear the reason he gave.
00:55The aircraft returned safely after airspace along the route was closed due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
01:03At Uganda's main international gateway, several flights to Gulf destinations have since been cancelled or delayed.
01:09Certainly, such a disruption is not good because it does not only affect air transport, but it affects the entire
01:16economy.
01:17Because certainly this comes with loss of revenue for many players, including all those in the tourism chain, among others.
01:25So we only pray that this situation does not take too long.
01:28And remember, the Middle East is one of the major destinations for passengers originating from this region.
01:39It's Emanuel top three.
01:41Uganda sends more than 160,000 workers to the Gulf region each year, mainly for domestic and security jobs.
01:48Recruitment agencies say the disruption is affecting the entire migration chain.
01:53We have so many partners in this migration, starting from the medicals, the airlines, so many police clearances, the passports,
02:05the interports.
02:05It's like the case we had in COVID.
02:07I think if you are to reflect the impact that COVID brought, where the airspace was closed and, you know,
02:13almost everybody was down.
02:14So you can imagine. But for me, directly, I'm hit because, as we speak, I'm not working.
02:22I only work once I've cleared at the airport.
02:25Many workers who were preparing to travel are now waiting for new schedules, unsure when departures will resume.
02:33Munira says the experience has left her disappointed and uncertain about her plans.
02:38Me and my colleagues, most of them, it was our first time to fly.
02:43And it was our first time entering Dubai.
02:46So we were all excited.
02:47But when it turned, we all got disappointed.
02:52Figures from the Bank of Uganda show diaspora remittances grew to 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, up
03:00from 1.4 billion in 2024.
03:03Officials warn that prolonged disruption could affect families who depend on that income.
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