Bundibugyo RDC refutes reported influx of Congolese refugees into the district

Bundibugyo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Bundibugyo Resident District  Commissioner, Amos Asiimwe Banji has denied claims about the reported influx of Congolese refugees into the district. He was responding to complaints by residents of Burondo, Ntandi, Bubukwanga and Ntotoro sub-counties in an interview with URN.

It came after residents complained that several people fleeing from the war-torn Eastern part of DRC have crossed into Bundibugyo district. Residents fear that the refugees could fuel the spread of COVID-19 given the surge in infections.

However, Asiimwe Banji has denied the reported influx of the refugees, saying that they are aware of people with relatives in DRC who have habitually aided them to enter the district through Rwamabale in Ntoroko district.

The RDC assures the residents that they have heightened security at the border points as the country battles the second wave of Covid-19. The LC V chairperson Robert Tibakunirwa says his office has received similar concerns about the reported influx of Congolese in the district.

He says they have already engaged local leaders including GISOs to establish the whereabouts of these people for appropriate action.

Tibakunirwa says that they are alert to ensure any person reported to have entered the district illegally is identified and isolated from the rest of the community. He says that they have taken on messages to encourage the community to report any person they suspect to have come from the neighbouring country.

Dr. Christopher Kiyita, the Bundibugyo District Health Officer asks the district to verify the claims to safeguard the district from any health-related eventualities. He says they are now monitoring using the community surveillance teams to follow up on any suspected illegal entrant from DRC.

But one of the workers with Red Cross who didn’t want to be revealed because she is not allowed to speak to the media, said they have registered persons who are running away from the conflict in DRC.

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