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The 4,114 Rwandans are among those who have been living in Uganda for over a decade. Some have been there for over 3 decades. They are part of those supposed to voluntarily be repatriated to Rwanda but up to now they have not made up their mind to return to Rwanda.
According to Uganda’s minister of Disaster preparedness, relief and refugees Hilary Onek there are currently about 15,000 Rwandan refugees in Uganda. The country also hosts thousands of refugees from Democratic republic of Congo, a few from Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Sudan.
According to today’s New Vision, The United Nations High Commission, (UNHCR)
has urged Uganda to integrate some of the 4,114 Rwandan refugees into its society, two weeks after the June 30th deadline recommended for discontinuation of their refugee status.
UNHCR representative in Uganda, Mohammed Adar said, ‘As you know, quite a significant number of refugees have been here over three decades. Many have been born herewith hardly any links to Rwanda.Some have socially and economically integrated wholesomely. To them this is the only home they know.”
Authorities in Uganda said they will consider the request after thoroughly studying it.
Both UNHCR and Rwandan government insist that since the end of the civil war and 1994 genocide, Rwanda is peaceful and over 2 million exiled Rwandans have returned home.
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