New Vision (Kampala)
June 19, 2003
Posted to the web June 19, 2003
Kampala
MORE than 20,000 Congolese refugees have entered Hoima district through Lake Albert following the bloody tribal clashes between the Lendu and the Hema in the Ituri region.
This brings the number of refugees in the district to 30,000. The Hoima district security committee chairman, who is also the RDC, Deo Nsereko described the situation as "worrying".
Nsereko, who was addressing the Hoima district council recently noted that the refugees from Congo were entering the district at a terrible rate.
The immigrants are settled at Nkondo landing site in Kabwoya sub- county about 50 miles from Hoima town. Nsereko says he has already informed the office of the Prime Minister about the influx of the Congolese into the area.
The district police commander, Sam Emokok said that some of the refugees have got guns. He appealed to the public to be more security conscious.
"The general public should be on alert because the reports we have received indicate that some of those Congolese are armed," Emokok said.
Security sources say some of the Congolese have been sighted in Hoima town.
Both Nsereko and Emokok said the Congolese have refused to be registered as refugees because they don't want to be taken to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement.
