- More than 20,000 Rwanda refugees spread in two major camps in south western Uganda will be repatriated and reintegrated in Rwandan communities before the end of July, the officials from both countries have said in a statement.
According to a joint statement issued by both governments, the officials who had visited the refugees in the two camps of Nakivale and Nshungerezi with the assistance of the UN refugees agency heard the pleas of the people in the camps and their readiness to be repatriated.
The officials said the refugees at both camps requested to be repatriated as soon as possible, with youth and women said to be having a keen interest and hoping for a better life after repatriation.
Uganda’s Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Prof Tharcis Kabwegere said after visiting the settlements, some refugees were ready to relocate, but said both governments were not ready for repatriation.
Prof Kabwegere said that all delegations unanimously agreed to carry out the repatriation as soon as possible, saying UNHCR has promised to work with both countries to help repatriate the refugees to Rwanda starting from next week.
Uganda is a home to thousands of refugees from Burundi and Rwanda, majority of whom fled the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
According to the Uganda government officials, these people have not been granted refugee status but the Ugandan government has allowed them to stay on humanitarian grounds, until a solution is found for them.
Since the 1960's and after the 1994, many Rwandese have been taking refugee in Uganda because of the political turmoil their country has had.
Analysts say that the 1994 genocide which left more than 800,000 Rwandese massacred saw many fleeing the country to take refugee in Uganda.
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