A large group of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sought safety in Uganda on Tuesday night, with 1,284 Congolese nationals crossing into Uganda through the Bunagana border.
They are now being housed at the Nyakabande transit center, located in the southwestern district of Kisoro.
The refugees, predominantly women and children, fled their homes due to the ongoing conflict between the M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
The Nyakabande transit center has been overwhelmed by the increasing number of arrivals in recent weeks.
This latest influx, received on March 11, 2025, has further strained the centre’s already limited resources.
The transit centre provides temporary housing and assistance to refugees before they are resettled in other parts of the country, mostly the Nakivale settlement in Isingiro district.
Robert Tukamuhebwa, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kisoro, confirmed the arrival of the new batch of Congolese refugees and noted the growing pressure on Nyakabande’s capacity.
“It’s true we received another huge number of refugees through our neighbouring border with DR Congo, Bunagana. As a district, we have been at the forefront of managing the refugee crisis,” Tukamuhebwa stated.
The Deputy RDC also expressed concerns over the rapid increase in arrivals, revealing that more than 2,000 refugees had been received in just two weeks.
He said the transit centre is currently congested, and the district is struggling with a lack of funding to handle the crisis, particularly with the onset of the rainy season.
“Our worry is that we lack funds to handle the crisis at hand. With the rains now upon us, we might even see a disease outbreak in the transit center due to the overcrowded conditions,” Tukamuhebwa added.
Tukamuhebwa has called for greater intervention from humanitarian agencies to help manage the growing crisis.
“I want to call on more humanitarian agencies to intervene so that we can be in a position to manage the situation,” he urged.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported a significant increase in the number of refugees fleeing DR Congo in recent months.
Many refugees cite violence, persecution, and human rights abuses as the primary reasons for their flight.
The Ugandan government has committed to providing assistance to the refugees, with various humanitarian agencies working tirelessly to provide emergency relief.
However, the situation at Nyakabande remains dire, with the center currently hosting 7,389 refugees.
As the crisis deepens, continued international support and coordination will be essential in alleviating the burdens faced by both the refugees and the Ugandan host communities.