Congolese refugee stranded in Kampala

By Charles Etukuri

KAMPALA - An 18-year-old Congolese refugee is stranded in Kampala after reportedly being abandoned by a man he had met at a refugee camp.

Kambale Mashauri came at the New Vision head offices in Kampala seeking help.

He said the man he met at Nakivale refugee camp convinced him to travel to Kampala, promising him a job, only to eventually abandon him at a restaurant in the city.

Mashauri claimed he made his way to the New Vision offices after being chased away from Jinja Road Police Station where he had been staying since Tuesday this week.

“I met a man at Nakivale refugee camp and he introduced himself to me as Moses Katongole. He offered to get me a job in Kampala on condition that I transported myself,” he narrated.

“We came to Kampala on Tuesday and then when we entered a restaurant at the [taxi] park, the man took off and left me there. I have been calling him but he doesn’t pick my calls.”

Jinja Road District Police Commander Charles Mugisa admitted sending Mashauri away from the station on grounds that the station was not a lodge for strangers and that the station did not have mattresses.

“You know the terror threats we are now facing and we cannot just accommodate a person we don’t know. Let him go to Old Kampala Police Station where they will direct him to the office of the refugees,” said Mugisa on phone.

However when New Vision challenged him that it was the duty of police to try and direct the refugee to Old Kampala Police Station, the police boss said he could not respond because he was in a meeting.

Efforts for Mashauri to try and seek help from the Congolese embassy also proved futile.

“When I went to the embassy, I was sent a way on grounds that I had an identification card and should seek help from the Government of Uganda,” said the teenage boy.

He is now appealing to any good Samaritan or government agency to help transport him back to the camp. Any help can be sent to Mashauri through his mobile phone number 0780255984.