Congolese in Uganda say they are starving, appeal for support

Aug 24, 2020

"Most of us live in the ghettos of Nsambya-Kirombe, Katwe and Kisenyi; where we face dire living conditions."

Congolese in Uganda say they are starving, appeal for support

Julius Luwemba
Journalist @New Vision

Congolese nationals staying in Kampala slums, have appealed to the Government and wellwishers for support, as Uganda continues to register more Covid-19 cases.

They said they were not even put on the food aid list back when the Government of Uganda distributed bags of posho and beans to the nation. 

"Most of us live in the ghettos of Nsambya-Kirombe, Katwe and Kisenyi; where we face dire living conditions," intimated one Congolese national.

According to Rebecca Zola, a Congolese national living in Uganda, most of the Congolese nationals are engaged in the hawking business, which was greatly affected by the lockdown, since movements were limited.

"Colleagues who qualify for some odd jobs, can neither speak English nor any local dialect. This is why they find it hard to conduct business," she said.

Danny Budigo, who came to Uganda five years ago through Ntoroko district and now stays in Katwe a Kampala suburb, expressed the hardships he and his countrymen face in a foreign country. "Up to 10 people sleep in a single room bevause we can not raise enough money to pay for rent," intimated Budigo.

Bob Mayonza, the country director of Pilgrim Centre for Reconciliation-Uganda, says scarcity of necessities among Congolese nationals in Uganda, has resulted in infighting and escalations, creating a state of lawlessness in Kampala suburbs.

"Just recently, a Congolese stabbed his colleague over soap. Such unfortunate scenarios point to scarcity, hence we feel a need to keep engaging the Congolese on better or alternative ways of life through which they can cater for their daily needs," Mayonza explained.

Congolese nationals living in Uganda share food at the retreat

Congolese nationals living in Uganda share food at the retreat

Rebecca Zola

Rebecca Zola

Some of the Congolese refugees who turned up for the retreat

Some of the Congolese refugees who turned up for the retreat

The Pilgrim Centre for Reconciliation-Uganda recently held a week-long reconciliatory retreat, aimed at bringing together Congolese within Kampala suburbs.

The retreat held at Seguku, Makindye municipality in Wakiso district, attracted close to 100 Congolese nationals. They were engaged in counselling and reconciliatory meetings before being awarded certificates of participation and relief items.

The retreat, which was conducted in shifts, in observance of the health ministry's standard operating procedures, attracted Congolese community leaders, women and youth groups.

The political instability and pandemics in the Democratic Republic of Congo  continue to force many to flee the country. Some of them settle in different refugee camps, while others find their way to towns and cities within Uganda, where they engage in hawking different merchandise and doing other odd jobs.

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