Rwandan Refugees Go Home After 20yrs

Jun 26, 2003

AMAHORO abe naamwe (peace be with you), a man said as he bid farewell to fellow Rwandan refugees aboard a truck to Kigali, yesterday.

By K. Muhanga
AMAHORO abe naamwe (peace be with you), a man said as he bid farewell to fellow Rwandan refugees aboard a truck to Kigali, yesterday.
Forty-one Rwandans left Nakivale refugee resettlement camp in Mbarara and headed for homeland Rwanda ending nine years in exile.
United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) senior protection officer Stephen Gonah said the refugees had requested to go back.
“The repatriation was voluntary,” Gonah said.
Several of the refugees have lived in Uganda since 1984 following the over- throw of President Habyarimana’s government by the Rwandese Patriotic Army led by the current President, Maj. Gen. Paul Kagame.
At least 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed during the 90 days war that sent more than three quarters of the country’s population into exile.
Gonah said each family head was given US$100 (about sh200,000) and US$50 per dependant to enable them start new life.
“We are going back to our home, our country is now calm. We are going to join hands to develop our country,” one of the refugees said.
Mbarara refugees’ desk officer Ronald Mayanja said the exercise was organised by the Premier’s office and UNHCR.
He said the International Organissation for migration provided transport.
At least 8,000 Rwandans have been living in Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee camps.
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