By VOM News Team
The Head of Security in Kisoro District Hajji Badru Ssebyala has called for increased support in preparedness measures, ahead of a new refugee influx from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Security operatives closely monitoring the region have said another wave of fleeing Congolese is expected to cross into Uganda before the December 20th Presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The comments were made yesterday during a stakeholder meeting with the U.S coordinator for Refugees Jones Christopher who had come to assess the preparedness of Kisoro District.
According to Jones, the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is one that needs to be monitored closely.
He noted that the United States and European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) are committed to making bigger investments in the frontline host communities which are critical in refugee protection.
24 candidates including incumbent president, Félix Tshisekedi have already registered with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s electoral commission (Céni) ahead of the December general elections.
Intelligence reports suggest that the process of screening and receiving of Congolese refugees through the border towns of Bunagana and Mupaka Town Council in Busanza Sub County, Kisoro district is likely to be far more complicated than in previous situations due to changing nature of armed conflict in Eastern DR. Congo.
Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner Robert Tukamuhebwa said the involvement of civilians in the armed conflict in Eastern DR Congo under the Militia Coalition, Wazalendo, will make it much harder to screen all the people crossing into Uganda.
Armed confrontations between the Militia Coalition, Wazalendo and M23 rebels has resulted in deaths, injuries and displacement of civilians.
In a situation update, the United Nations humanitarian coordination (Ocha) in the DRC estimates, nearly 200,000 people have fled their homes since October 1st, 2023, in the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi.
In 2022, 13,234 individuals and 7,073 households were resettled by United High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kyaka and Nakivale in Kyegegwa and Isingiro districts following one of the worst refugee influxes in Kisoro District.
Over 100,000 Congolese crossed into Kisoro, and many refused to leave the border town of Bunagana in order to monitor the situation back home.
The refugee act of 2006, states that, no refugee, asylum seeker is allowed to remain within 50Kms of the border of a country they are purportedly fleeing from.
Kisoro District LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana said communities in Kisoro are the biggest protectors of refugees.
However recent events where three Ugandan Boda Boda riders were kidnapped by rebels in Eastern DR Congo for 14 days has created ground for loss of trust between the two countries.
The comments come on the backdrop of serious environmental degradation in Kisoro that include mudslides in Kanaba, Chahafi and Murora where 12 lives including children were lost.
Bizimana says the boda boda riders were kidnapped after being accused of de-mobilizing the rebel forces who were stealthily fleeing their positions in the forest of Congo.
He called for increased vigilance and urged the leaders of the Great Lakes Region to intervene diplomatically before more innocent blood is shed.
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