The Office of the Prime Minister at Nyakabande Transit Center has decried the increased number of cyclical returnees among Congolese refugees. This comes after heavy fighting resumed in North Kivu, the eastern part of Congo, causing over 2,000 Congolese to flee to Uganda in search of safety. The M23 rebels took control of the Ishasha border post late on Sunday evening in a region that borders Kanungu District. The M23, active for nearly ten years, attacked North Kivu province in Eastern DRC towards the end of 2021, subsequently gaining control over extensive areas of territory.
Our reporter today visited the Bunagana border post, witnessing some Congolese refugees crossing from DRC to Uganda, while others were seen returning to Congo carrying luggage. Later, she visited Nyakabande Transit Center, where she found new arrivals of Congolese refugees being registered.
Emmy Munyotore, deputy commandant in the Office of the Prime Minister at Nyakabande Transit Center, says they continue to receive Congolese refugees, adding that the current population at Nyakabande Transit Center stands at 1,839. He also cited that they have received over 619 refugees currently held at Matanda Transit Center in Kanungu District.
However, Munyotore notes that as the office in charge of refugees, they are faced with the challenge of increasing numbers of cyclical returnees among Congolese refugees. This is particularly challenging in terms of resources and could result in insecurity for the hosting country.
“We have many refugees who are already in the camp, and they are again crossing back to DRC. That is a very big challenge for us because today we are taking them, and tomorrow, when there is some small stability in their country, you see them coming back. And when they come back, they again want to be transported back to the camp,” Munyotore states.
Badru Ssebyala, the RDC of Kisoro District, noted that it’s unfortunate that there is continuous fighting. He further confirms that they have received Congolese refugees and, to their surprise, women and children are arriving in large numbers, stressing that the situation needs to be investigated.
Ssebyala adds that Uganda has been economically hit hard due to the ongoing fighting in DRC since most of the borders are under M23 control.
“What we are receiving mostly are children and women. To our surprise, elderly men are not seen as refugees, so we are beginning to study the trend to understand why only women and children are coming to this side. This is an issue we need to investigate,” Ssebyala says.
There is still heavy fighting between M23 and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in Ishasha parts of Congo. It should be noted that the M23 have so far captured three major border posts that border Uganda and DRC, including Bunagana, Busanza, and now Ishasha border post in Kanungu District.
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