KAMPALA, March 8, 2018
Nearly 2,900 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have arrived in Uganda through one registration point in Ntoroko district, about 372km west of the capital Kampala over the past one month.
“So far we have registered 1,391 males and 1,492 females, excluding those who arrived late last evening (Tuesday),” said Edward Bwambale, the Town Clerk of Kanara sub-county, where the refugees crossing through Lake Albert are being received.
He added that after registration, the refugees are then ferried to Kyaka II refugee settlement camp in Kyegegwa district, about 120km from Ntoroko.
Bwambale, however, said several organizations were on the ground to receive the refugees..
Mishac Ruhuga Kawamara, the district chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement in Ntoroko, warned that Uganda should get ready to receive more refugees, “because the situation was not about to change in the eastern DRC”.
“There is still chaos, a lot of chaos in Congo. However, some of the refugees who are related to our people here in Ntoroko are being absorbed into the community,” Kawamara told Xinhua on Wednesday.
Thousands of refugees have fled the DRC following tribal clashes between the Lendu and Bagerere tribes in Ituri Province in eastern Congo.
Whereas some are crossing into Uganda through Ntoroko district, many others cross through Hoima district.
About 20,000 Congolese have crossed to Uganda through Lake Albert to Hoima since last December.
