Two Ugandan care workers were evacuated from their home in north Belfast after spending several hours trapped inside during a night of violence that saw properties attacked, vehicles set alight and emergency services deployed across the city.

Sumayah Nakazibwe and Stella Ariokot said they were forced to remain barricaded inside their house near the Crumlin Road area while disorder unfolded outside and fires spread through nearby streets. The women said smoke entered their home as neighboring properties and vehicles were targeted during the unrest.

According to Nakazibwe, the disturbances began with groups of young people gathering and moving through the area. She said many of those involved were dressed in dark clothing and wearing face coverings.

Initially, the situation appeared limited to isolated acts of vandalism, including the burning of tires taken from a bus and rubbish bins placed along the roadside.
The violence later escalated as groups moved into residential streets where families from a range of backgrounds, including Romanian, Nigerian, British and Irish communities, live alongside one another.

Nakazibwe said attackers began targeting vehicles, setting some on fire and throwing projectiles. As flames spread and smoke intensified, residents contacted police and fire services for assistance. She said the volume of incidents across Belfast appeared to stretch emergency resources, with firefighters taking time to reach the area because of multiple ongoing emergencies.

The two women remained inside their home for approximately four hours as the situation deteriorated. They said emergency responders advised them not to leave because of concerns for their safety. According to Nakazibwe, they were encouraged to put on their care worker uniforms in case their professional roles might help de-escalate any confrontation should rioters attempt to enter the property.

Reflecting on the experience, Nakazibwe said the violence highlighted how little attackers may know about the people they target. She noted that many migrant workers in Northern Ireland provide essential services, including caring for elderly residents and vulnerable individuals within local communities.

As the attacks intensified, the women feared their home could become a target. Ariokot said Nakazibwe lost consciousness at one stage after stones were thrown at their windows. While remaining in contact with emergency services, Ariokot followed instructions provided by ambulance personnel until her colleague regained consciousness.

The women eventually left the property only after assistance arrived from their church community. Pastor Jack McKee of New Life City Church said he decided to travel to the area after learning that members of his congregation were trapped.

McKee described arriving to find a heavily secured scene involving police officers in riot gear, multiple fire engines and ambulance crews operating amid ongoing disorder. He said groups of masked individuals remained present in the area, with some carrying bricks.
According to McKee, emergency responders faced significant challenges reaching affected residents because of the level of violence and disruption on surrounding streets. He said the atmosphere remained volatile even as authorities attempted to bring the situation under control.

A charity worker involved in supporting affected families said police escorted residents from danger and remained with them until temporary accommodation could be arranged. The displaced families were taken to safety while authorities assessed conditions in the area.

Local residents said some of the houses targeted during the unrest were occupied by ethnic minority families. One neighbor claimed attackers appeared to focus on specific properties associated with migrant communities. The same resident also alleged that individuals from different community backgrounds had participated in the violence, reflecting an unusual convergence in an area historically shaped by sectarian divisions.

The disturbances have drawn attention to concerns about the safety of migrant workers and minority communities living in parts of Northern Ireland. The region has increasingly relied on international workers in sectors including health care and social care, where staffing shortages have led employers to recruit from overseas.

The experiences described by Nakazibwe and Ariokot underscore the risks faced by residents caught up in episodes of urban disorder, particularly when emergency services are required to respond simultaneously to multiple incidents. Their account also highlights the role played by community organizations, faith groups and support networks in assisting vulnerable residents during periods of crisis.

For the two care workers, the immediate focus remained on personal safety after an evening they described as one of fear and uncertainty. Having spent hours unable to leave while violence unfolded around them, they were eventually escorted from the area and relocated to temporary accommodation as authorities worked to restore order.