Congolese refugees to return home
A total of 32,000 refugees from the DR Congo have volunteered to be repatriated, refugees and disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said on Friday.
By Paskazia Tumwesigye
A total of 32,000 refugees from the DR Congo have volunteered to be repatriated, refugees and disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said on Friday.
Kabwegyere told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre that the DRC was now a safe place.
“Settlements are never homes,†he remarked. “We are creating favourable conditions to ensure that Congolese refugees can return home safely.â€
The minister noted that there were 84,696 Congolese refugees in Uganda.
Present at the briefing was a delegation from the DRC led by Prof. Adolphe Lumanu, the country’s vice-prime minister.
“It is President Joseph Kabila’s wish to see fellow countrymen return home. It was one of his commitments before he came to power; to restore peace and unity,†Lumanu said.
He emphasised that the DRC was strengthening its economy to be able to provide employment opportunities to returning refugees.
“The country is working to strengthen the formerly banned mining sector and clear allegations that illegal mining supports rebel activity,†he stated.
The DRC’s North Kivu, South Kivu and the Oriental provinces have been prepared to receive the refugees.
“We know all the rebel groups causing atrocities. We are hunting them down, while others are facing the military tribunal,†he stated.
Ugandan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently conducted a survey and established that some refugees were willing to return home. According to an agreement signed by Uganda, the DRC and UNHCR, a team will visit the settlements to register the refugees willing to return home.
A total of 32,000 refugees from the DR Congo have volunteered to be repatriated, refugees and disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said on Friday.
Kabwegyere told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre that the DRC was now a safe place.
“Settlements are never homes,†he remarked. “We are creating favourable conditions to ensure that Congolese refugees can return home safely.â€
The minister noted that there were 84,696 Congolese refugees in Uganda.
Present at the briefing was a delegation from the DRC led by Prof. Adolphe Lumanu, the country’s vice-prime minister.
“It is President Joseph Kabila’s wish to see fellow countrymen return home. It was one of his commitments before he came to power; to restore peace and unity,†Lumanu said.
He emphasised that the DRC was strengthening its economy to be able to provide employment opportunities to returning refugees.
“The country is working to strengthen the formerly banned mining sector and clear allegations that illegal mining supports rebel activity,†he stated.
The DRC’s North Kivu, South Kivu and the Oriental provinces have been prepared to receive the refugees.
“We know all the rebel groups causing atrocities. We are hunting them down, while others are facing the military tribunal,†he stated.
Ugandan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently conducted a survey and established that some refugees were willing to return home. According to an agreement signed by Uganda, the DRC and UNHCR, a team will visit the settlements to register the refugees willing to return home.