By Alex Gahima.
Household heads in Kisoro living among the communities of Bunagana, Muramba, Nyarubuye, Busanza Sub counties and Rukundo town council could face up to two years in prison for sheltering Congolese asylum seekers instead of sending them to the Nyakabande transit camp, Police said.
The comments were made by the Kisoro Police Community Liaison Officer (CLO) A.I.P Boaz Arinaitwe during a radio talk show on Voice of Muhabura radio, earlier this week.
A.I.P Arinaitwe said Police intends to begin its operations this weekend and will be supported by the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF).
The decision comes following a directive by State Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Hon. Esther Davina Anyakun who ordered that all Congolese still living among Kisoro host communities to leave for the transit camp in Nyakabande within seven days or face prosecution for illegal entry and stay.
The seven day ultimatum elapsed last week on Friday, 13th May 2022.
The 6th May statements, made by Hon. Esther Anyakun while at transit camp grounds still continue to reverberate among Kisoro communities, with many thinking her pronouncements were merely political with no actual follow-up.
Arinaitwe explained that under the Immigration act of 2009, the Government has the authority to arrest and present such persons before courts of law.
The law states that home owners caught with Congolese in their homes and they do not possess documents from immigration nor have they been registered at the Nyakabande transit camp shall be arrested and charged with illegal entry and illegal stay.
The fine of 150 currency points will attract a fine amounting to 3 Million Ugandan shillings or a 2 year jail term or both.
Arinaitwe further explained that the Congolese themselves who do not proceed to the transit camp will also be arrested and charged with illegal stay.
The fine imposed on the Congolese will attract 60 currency points amounting to 1.2 million shillings fine or 12 months in prison or both.
According to the immigration act of 2009, refugees need to be at least 50Kms from the border of the country they are fleeing from.
In Kisoro district, many Congolese continue to linger around Bunagana town council closely monitoring events back home while other cross into their home country during the day for food and return in the evenings.
Arinaitwe says the decision to arrest Congolese in the host communities as well as home owners sheltering them is aimed at taking back control of the situation that has since gotten out of hand.
“The Congolese crossed into Uganda more than two months ago and went straight into people’s homes, whatever little finances they had are nearly over and once this happens, they might resort to criminal activity to survive. We need to secure the lives of our people and ensure the Congolese are somewhere we can monitor them and offer them servicing that will give them dignity, Arinaitwe explained
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi says between 6000 and 8000 Congolese are still living among host communities.
Sekandi says the camp at Nyakabande which currently has population of 17,304 is well equipped to manage the welfare of all Congolese.
He noted that their continued stay in host communities is putting a major strain on the existing resources in the communities.
Security reports indicate that fighting resumed yesterday after nearly three weeks of relative calm.
M23 rebels invaded two villages to steal food and were repulsed by Government forces. in the areas of Kinyamahura and Runyonyi of Jomba Groupema, Rutshuru area of North Kivu
Discussion about this post