Thousands of Congolese refugees flock Hoima District

Congolese refugees arrive at Sebagoro landing site in Hoima District. They were fleeing from a tribal war between the Lendu and Bagegere in eastern DRC. Courtesy Photo

What you need to know:

  • OPM and UNHCR are using buses to transport the refugees from reception sites on Lake Albert but there are plans to deploy more trucks to speed up the transportation of refugees to Kyangwali refugee resettlement scheme.
  • Upon arrival, the refugees are receiving basic relief assistance before being transported by United Nations High commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to Kyangwali refugee settlement camp.

Thousands of Congolese nationals who are fleeing from fighting in their home areas have arrived in Hoima District in western Uganda.

Security officials say, the Congolese are fleeing from fighting that has erupted in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

They are reportedly fleeing from a tribal fight between the Bagegere and the Lendu while others are fleeing from areas where UPDF soldiers are fighting with ADF rebels.

“Within less than a week, we have received over 7,000 Congolese refugees. They are asylum seekers who have come for safety,” the Hoima Resident District Commissioner, Mr John Stephen Ekoom said.

He said more refugees are arriving as fighting rages in Eastern DRC. The refugees are traveling by canoe boats across Lake Albert before arriving at various landing sites in Uganda.

Most of them enter Uganda through Kaiso, Sebagoro, Nsonga and Bugoma landing sites. However, there are some who are evading being registered by local authorities.

“We are not taking issues lightly. We have deployed security officials to scrutinize them. We are not allowing them to mix with local communities although there are some who are trying to seek refuge from their relatives and friends,” Ekoom added.

The refugees include some Alurs, Bagegere and Lendu, according to the Albertine regional Police spokesperson, Mr Julius Hakiza.

The Police Marine Forces are increasing their boat patrols in the lake to curb possible boat accidents due to overloading.

There Congolese have told Ugandan authorities that houses are being scorched in the area and people are being attacked with machetes and firearms.

Upon arrival, the refugees are receiving basic relief assistance before being transported by United Nations High commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to Kyangwali refugee settlement camp.

The refugees are being registered by OPM and medically screened by Action Africa Help, government officials said.

“Since December 19, 2017, we have registered 11,553 refugees but an estimated 3,000 others are still at reception centres at landing sites,” said Mr Douglas Asiimwe, an officer in OPM.

OPM and UNHCR are using buses to transport the refugees from reception sites on Lake Albert but there are plans to deploy more trucks to speed up the transportation of refugees to Kyangwali refugee resettlement scheme.

Mr Asiimwe said an emergency registration team is on ground to conduct bio metric registration.