More Congolese refugees trek into Uganda
May 21, 2009
LARGE numbers of refugees are continuing to trek into Uganda from the North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Pascal Kwesiga
LARGE numbers of refugees are continuing to trek into Uganda from the North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Congolese are fleeing the sporadic attacks from forces loyal to the rebel leader Laurent Nkunda who was arrested by the Interahamwe forces last year.
Emmanuel Turyagenda, the officer in-charge of Kyaka, Kyangwali and Kiryandongo refugee resettlement camps in western Uganda, on Tuesday said the Congolese were entering Uganda through Kisoro district, which boarders Congo.
He said the refugees claimed the rebels were re-grouping, attacking them and burning their homes.
Turyagenda said most of the Congolese refugees who were entering Uganda were women and children.
“We are getting at least two full buses of them every week,†he explained.
“As we speak now, there are others waiting for our buses at the Congo boarder in Kisoro and we are arranging to go and pick them.â€
The highest numbers of refugees in the three camps, Turyagenda said, were the Congolese, who were fleeing political turmoil that has engulfed the country since the late 90s.
Congolese refuges began entering into Uganda in October last year at the height of clashes between government forces and forces of renegade Nkunda.
They were first hosted in Kyaka camp in Kyenjojo district but it was overwhelmed by their increasing numbers.
This prompted the camp authorities to relocate some of the refugees to Kyangwali refugee camp in Hoima and Kiryandango resettlement camp in Masindi district.
LARGE numbers of refugees are continuing to trek into Uganda from the North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Congolese are fleeing the sporadic attacks from forces loyal to the rebel leader Laurent Nkunda who was arrested by the Interahamwe forces last year.
Emmanuel Turyagenda, the officer in-charge of Kyaka, Kyangwali and Kiryandongo refugee resettlement camps in western Uganda, on Tuesday said the Congolese were entering Uganda through Kisoro district, which boarders Congo.
He said the refugees claimed the rebels were re-grouping, attacking them and burning their homes.
Turyagenda said most of the Congolese refugees who were entering Uganda were women and children.
“We are getting at least two full buses of them every week,†he explained.
“As we speak now, there are others waiting for our buses at the Congo boarder in Kisoro and we are arranging to go and pick them.â€
The highest numbers of refugees in the three camps, Turyagenda said, were the Congolese, who were fleeing political turmoil that has engulfed the country since the late 90s.
Congolese refuges began entering into Uganda in October last year at the height of clashes between government forces and forces of renegade Nkunda.
They were first hosted in Kyaka camp in Kyenjojo district but it was overwhelmed by their increasing numbers.
This prompted the camp authorities to relocate some of the refugees to Kyangwali refugee camp in Hoima and Kiryandango resettlement camp in Masindi district.