Nyakabande refugee holding center remains closed- Gov't

by MOSES AGABA

KISORO

The Government of Uganda has maintained that the Nyakabande refugee holding center in Kisoro district will not reopen.

Congolese refugees, who were accommodated at the center after fleeing fighting between the M23 rebels and Congolese troops in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province were last month told to either accept relocation to Nakivale Settlement center or return to their country.

The district authorities recently also destroyed temporarily structures that had been erected at the holding center.

Last week, thousands of refugees fled into the country forcing the authorities in Kisoro district to re-open the holding center to temporarily accommodate refugees.

However, the Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Esther Anyakun told our reporter yesterday that re-opening Nyakabande holding center is impossible since it is very expensive. She said the refugees should either accept relocation or remain in DRC.

Frank Walusimbi the Communications Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCRZ), revealed that the agency currently has financial challenges to provide assistance to refugees at both Nyakabande holding and transit centers.

He said their request of USD 68 million from humanitarian agencies to help in providing assistance to refugees is yet to bear positive results.