“The situation of the Congolese refugees’ influx is worrying and Parliament needs to be kept informed. The refugees came from Rutshuru town and villages of Kafeguru, Kiseguru, Kiwanga and Kinyandoge. Many people said their villages had been attacked and atrocities committed,” Kabwegyere said. He called on the Ministry of Health to provide immunisation and screen for epidemics at the border.
In a brief to Parliament on the refugee situation in Kanungu on Friday, Kabwegyere said that information from western Uganda indicates that an estimated 10,000 refugees crossed the border on Thursday, through Ishasha town. He said more people were arriving into the country. The 10,000 join 3,000 other refugees, who arrived between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the total number of Congolese refugees who fled into Uganda since the beginning of August to an estimated 27,000.
Kabwegyere said the new arrivals tell stories of fresh fighting around the town of Rutshuru, which is located 70km north of Goma, the North Kivu provincial capital. The refugees are currently at the transit centre set up by the Government of Uganda and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) near Ishasha. Due to the increasing number, Kabwegyere said, the Government had advised UNHCR to set up a reception centre at Matanda to handle the influx as they await transportation to Nakivale Refugee Camp.
On Thursday, Kabwegyere said about 1,000 people were transported to Nakivaale, and more were expected to be moved. He, however, pledged that the Office of the Prime Minister would provide food relief and security to the refugees. “The Government will provide food relief to the district to cope with food security questions and liaise with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide security to the refugees,” Kabwegyere said.
Several MPs, however, urged the Government to move quickly and stop the spread of diseases in the affected areas. John Odit observed that Congo had harboured many contagious diseases like Ebola and there was need for the health ministry to ensure that the citizens are safe.
