Human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have led to a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers entering Uganda, with officials reporting a 50 percent rise at Nyakabande Transit Centre in Kisoro District.
The revelation was made by Jimmy Ogwanga the UNHCR team leader at Nyakabande transit Centre during a brief interview on the current situation at the reception facility.
Ogwanga attributed the influx to escalating human rights abuses in eastern DRC, including rape, abduction, looting, and killings, which have forced many civilians to flee their homes and seek refuge in Uganda.
He noted that in the month of April 2026 alone, the center received about 1,400 asylum seekers, compared to just over 800 recorded in March 2026.
According to Ogwanga, health remains a major concern, as between 35 to 37 percent of the new arrivals test positive for malaria.
This has placed a strain on medical services, requiring health teams to treat nearly every refugee upon arrival.
He called for stronger cooperation between refugees and the host community to manage the situation effectively.
Despite the surge, ogwanga assured the continuity to manage their coming noting that UNHCR is well associating with Ugandan government to handle the situation
Meanwhile, the Resident District Commissioner of Kisoro, Hajji Badru Ssebyala, reassured the public of the government’s commitment to supporting refugees.
He urged members of the host community to assist asylum seekers where possible but emphasized the importance of directing them to officially designated reception centres.
Ssebyala also warned residents against accommodating refugees in their homes, saying such actions could create security and administrative challenges, and cautioned that those found violating the directive could face arrest.
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