By Godfrey Olukya 27-3-2013
Over 13,000 Burundian refugee who have lived in Uganda since 1970’s are now set to return back home following the signing of a tripartite agreement between Uganda, Burundi and the international refugee agency (UNHCR) that will facilitate their voluntary return.
According to the UNHCR representatives in Uganda and Burundi, Mohammed Adur and Catherine Huck, plans are under way to have those willing to return home to be moved and resettle them back to their original homeland and those who forgot where they used to stay as well as those who don’t have anywhere to stay will be got where to settle.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan minister for relief, disaster and refugees, Stephen Malinga urges the Burundian govt to treat the returnees well to enable love their country and settle peacefully.
Malinga said, ‘I request the government of Burundi to treat well those who are returning from exile.’
And the Burundian minister for national solidarity, human rights and gender, Clotilde Niragira thanked the government of Uganda and UNHCR for the generosity by hosting Burundian refugees for all this long.
Hundreds of Burundians fled into Uganda in 1970’s due to political turmoil in their country. They have since been living in camps managed by UNHCR.
END
