Rwandan Refugees Don't
Want to Go Home
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE RWANDA Repatriation Commission is expected in Kampala this week to hold an urgent meeting with Uganda's Ministry of Disaster Preparedness to discuss the case of the Rwandan refugees in Nakivale camp who are resisting attempts to be repatriated.
The Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Christine Amongin Aporu, told The EastAfrican last week that many of the refugees fear for their safety back home.
"The refugees have sent a memorandum to me expressing their reservations about going back to Rwanda. We are going to discuss this with the Rwanda Repatriation Commission," said Ms Aporu.
The refugees expressed fear for their safety and property if they return home.
"I would rather hang than go back," said one of the refugee leaders in Nakivale camp.
The repatriation, which was to have started by the beginning of this month, was postponed until the consultation meeting between the two governments.
The meeting is to discuss the memorandum written by the refugees from the settlements of Nakivale, Rukiga and Chaka.
Ms Aporu said they would also discuss the safety of the refugees and their property rights adding that she was already working with the Protection office in Rwanda and officials from the UN High Commission for Refugees to ensure the returnees were allowed to reclaim their property in Rwanda.
"Some of the refugees are positive and want to go back home but want an assurances on their safety and property rights," said Ms Aporu.
However, the minister said that the repatriation was voluntary and those who were not willing to go back would not be forced to leave.
She added that a voluntary repatriation information programme was in place to sensitise the refugees about their safety once they return home.
The minister said the refugee repatriation was to be a continuous process and that it would start as soon as the meeting with the Repatriation Commission from Rwanda ended. The meeting will set the date when the repatriation will begin.
A total of 25,000 refugees are expected to return to Rwanda. The commissioner and the governments of Uganda and Rwanda are sponsoring the programme.
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