New Arrivals from DRC Allocated Plots in Kyangwali Settlement

Kyangwali refugee settlement area and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have embarked on allocating plots to the new arrivals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

As of Tuesday, 388 Congolese refugees who fled their country due to conflict and sought refuge in the settlement had been selected by the settlement management and OPM to be allocated plots to start a new life.

Dan Nkesiga, the in-charge Kagoma refugees' reception centre in the Kyangwali settlement area told Uganda Radio Network (URN) in an interview on Tuesday that, the selected 388 are part of the 3,815 Congolese refugees who recently crossed to Uganda and were admitted to the settlement.

Tophius Chali, the Settlement Commandant at the Kyangwali refugee settlement area explains that those selected to benefit from the plots have been thoroughly screened and allocated refugees’ attestation cards.   

The attestation card serves as the initial proof of refugee status and is used to access services in refugee settlements. The refugees have also been issued with Biometric Refugee ID Cards. 

The card bears a photo and biometric data and it is issued by the office of the prime minister (OPM) and enables them to move freely, work and establish businesses, own property and access national services.

Chali says the documents are crucial for refugees and asylum seekers to access basic services, including collecting remittances. They are also essential for refugees to exercise their individual and economic agency. She adds that plans are underway to screen and allocate other refugees with plots in the area. 

According to Chali, the refugees are being relocated to a piece of land in Bukinda village belonging to the office of the prime minister (OPM).

More than 8,000 Congolese refugees fleeing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have fled to Kikuube District through lake Albert.   

This group, primarily women, children, and the elderly crossed into Uganda via Lake Albert in the past two weeks. 

Available statistics reveal that 3,815 of the refugees have been screened, registered and taken to the Kyangwali refugee settlement area for proper management.

They were initially received at the Sebigoro transit centre in Kabwoya Sub-County before being transferred to Kyangwali. 

The refugees come from conflict-hit areas in Bunia District, Ituri Province, including Joo, Thoroges, Nyamamba, Kasenyi, Tchomia, Datule, Kafe, and Muvaramu.  

Some refugees have settled in surrounding communities at Kyakapere, Sunzu, Kyabasambo, and Songa landing sites, with many living in makeshift shelters or sleeping outdoors. 

Uganda has been a major destination for Congolese refugees fleeing tribal clashes, particularly between the Lendu and Bagegere communities.  

In February 2018, over 6,000 refugees arrived at Sebigoro and Nkondo Reception Centers before being relocated to Kyangwali. 

In October 2021, another 1,000 Congolese refugees crossed through Lake Albert due to ongoing violence. With the conflict in eastern DRC persisting, Uganda continues to receive large numbers of refugees, as the government and international agencies work to support them.

 

The management of the Kyangwali refugee settlement area has revealed that the termination of major donor-funded projects at the settlement is significantly impacting the livelihoods of the refugees residing in the area. 

The settlement, which is home to 145,620 refugees, is grappling with funding gaps, leaving management struggling to meet the basic needs of the displaced population.  

Recently, many implementing partners have pulled their support from the settlement, citing challenges in securing funding. 

The settlement, which can accommodate 200,000 refugees, is currently hosting refugees from countries including the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya, and Sudan, among others.

Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Africa, with nearly 1.7 million individuals as of 2024, primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This immense population reflects Uganda's decades-long commitment to providing refuge, underscored by progressive policies aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees.   

These policies grant refugees land, freedom of movement, and the ability to reside in urban areas if they can support themselves.

However, Uganda faces significant challenges, including chronic underfunding.