Congolese refugees in Kisoro District have asked the government to relocate them to transit centers and camps in their country and not at Nyakabande refugees transit centre
More than 20,00 refugees are camping in Bunagana, Rukundo, Mpaka town councils, Muramba, and Nyarubuye sub-counties following fighting between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels and Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) troops in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province.
Fighting has left the Uganda-DRC border of Bunagana and neighboring areas in the hands of M23 rebels since June 13.
The refugees who declined to join the other 20,000 at Nyakabande transit centre in Nyakabande sub-county resorted to encroaching on land belonging to Ugandans.
Others also occupied Kibaya government land in Bunagana town council where the Industrial park will be constructed.
On Wednesday, the refugees were given a two-day ultimatum to leave the border town and go to Nyakabande. But refugees have resisted the directive on grounds that the conditions at the transit centre are appalling.
They want the government to liaise with the Congolese authorities to provide means of transferring them to Rutshuru.
Jean Muhire, a resident of Nyarubande in Rutshuru says that they cannot accept going to Nyakabande transit center because there is no space for grazing their livestock.
Jean Pierre Kiti, a resident of Kihinga village says that entered they escaped from Nyakabande transit center and will not return. He says that while at the transit center, they were served very inadequate food. He adds that since the Uganda-DRC border of Busanza is still in the hands of FARDC soldiers, the government should transport the refugees through Kitagoma to Rutshuru.
Safari Bahati, another refugee says that the government should be patient and allow the refugees in the area until the war ends. Bahati also says that staying near the border gives them an opportunity to cross to Rutshuru and grow or get food.
Hajji Shafique Ssekandi, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, and Douglas Asiimwe, commissioner for refugees in the office of the Prime Minister insist that the refugees must vacate all occupied areas and enter Nyakabande transit center.
Ssekandi says that on Friday, refugees shall be compelled to trek to Nyakabande transit center.
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