By Alex Gahima.
A total of 615 Congolese were yesterday relocated from the Nyakabande Transit Camp in Nyakabande Sub County, Kisoro district to Nakivale Settlement camp in Isingiro district.
The routine relocation, organized by UNHCR comes just one week after an official visit by the State Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Hon. Esther Anyakun Davina to Nyakabande Transit camp.
Hon.Anyakun called on all Congolese living within host communities of Bunagana, Muramba, Nyarubuye Sub counties as well as Rukundo town council to respond to the Government directive to move to the holding center by Friday 13th May 2022 or else face arrest for illegal entry into Uganda.
The total population at the Transit camp as of yesterday, 12th May, 2022 is 18,003 individuals.
The cumulative number of Asylum seekers at Nyakabande transit camp since March 28th 2022 is 22,304 individuals of 11,444 households.
The Congolese fled fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between Government forces and the M23 rebel group.
According the Refugee act of Uganda 2006, Government is responsible for protecting refugees and coordinating the provision of services for their welfare.
Hon. Anyakun stressed the importance of downgrading the population at the transit camp to a sizeable number within the next three months saying it is unsustainable for Government and other humanitarian agencies to operate Nyakabande transit camp as if it were a settlement camp.
Anyakun said all Congolese at the camp need to make a decision fast, to move to the settlement camps in Nakivale, Rwamwanja and Kyaka or go back to their country.
“Remaining at the transit camp is no longer an option. You either move to settlement camps where Government has the capacity to feed and educate your children or go back home but you can no longer remain here”, Anyakun said
According to UNHCR data at Nyakabande transit camp, over 60% of the population is comprised of children while the rest are women, youth and the elderly.
Ultimatum yields Some Results.
At least 518 Congolese living among host communities in Kisoro relocated from host communities to the transit camp between Monday and Wednesday this week.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Hajji Shafiq Sekandi says, this is encouraging because majority of the Congolese have no desire to leave the communities because it is easier for them to monitor the situation back home.
Sekandi says it is important the Congolese comply with the directive because Government needs to be able to account for them as well as relieve pressure on host communities who are now complaining of food shortages.
The last seven day ultimatum that was instituted by the office of the RDC saw over 8000 Congolese move from host communities into the transit camp.
Some Congolese, however have decided to leave the camp and head back home.
Camp sources say at least 183 Congolese have left the transit camp for Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Security sources say fighting has since died down however heavy military deployment in Eastern DRC continues to worry residents who prefer to remain in Uganda.
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