Congolese refugees overwhelm Nyakabande Transit Centre

The Office of the Prime Minister at Nyakabande Transit Centre have decried increased number cyclical returnees of Congolese refugees.

Heavy fighting resumed in North Kivu Province of eastern part DR Congo, displacing more than 2,000 persons who continue to stream into Uganda.

The M23 rebels took control of the Ishasha border post late Sunday evening in a region that borders the Kanungu District.

The M23 attacked North Kivu towards the end of 2021 and subsequently gained control over extensive areas of territory.

The Nile Post visited Bunagana border post and witnessed some of the Congolese refugees crossing into Uganda.

Later, this reporter visited Nyakabande transit centre where she found new arrivals of Congolese refugees being screened and registered.

Emmy Munyotore, deputy commandant at Nyakabande, said at the transit they continue to receive Congolese refugees adding that the current population stands at 1,839.

He said another 619 of the refugees are currently held at Matanda Transit Centre in Kanungu District.

However, Munyotore notes that as the office in charge of refugees, they are faced with a challenge of increasing number cyclical returnees of Congolese refugees.

He also cited resource challenges which he said could result into insecurity cases to the host communities.

“We have many refugees who are already in the camp and they are again crossing back to DR Congo, that is a very big challenge to us because today we are taking them in and tomorrow when there is some small stability in their country, they go back only to again return here," Munyotore said.

The Nile Post witnessed the issue the OPM official was raising at Bunagana border where a couple of the refugees were seen carrying their luggage and crossing back into the restive nation.

“This is so challenging in terms of resources," Munyotore said. "Taking them to the settlements need money in terms of fuel and vehicles. Remember we are receiving new arrivals, so people who are already catered for, they also want service again and at the same time.”

Mr Badru Ssebyala, the Kisoro resident district commissioner, said it is unfortunate that there is continuous fighting.

He said most of the border points between eastern DR Congo and Uganda are being controlled by M23 and that the majority of the refugees are women and children.

“To our surprise, elderly men are not seen as refugees so we are beginning to study the trend to know why only women and children are coming this side. This is the issue we need to investigate," Ssebyala said.

He said the refugee crisis is stretching Uganda's resources.

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 borders Uganda and DR Congo that includes Bunagana, Busanza ans now Ishasha border post in Kanungu.