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| M23 rebels speaking to asylum seekers at Busanza border |
According to Congolese
asylum seekers in Mupaka town council, Kisoro district in Uganda, M23 rebels
started firing on empty barracks that belong to the Congolese forces in areas
of Rutezo, Humure, Kitagoma, Kabaya and others on Wednesday night.
The Mayor of Mupaka
town council, Ndekezi Emmanuel said that tension was high today morning as five
barracks were set on fire. He also said that Congolese army that had been at
Busanza border of the Congo side withdrew yesterday after being tipped off by
an M23 attack.
He expressed worry for Ugandans near the Congo border because some have left their village to seek refuge in neighborhoods while some schools have also been temporarily closed.
Affected villages in
Uganda include Busigi, Rurangara, Bugara, Butunga, and Rubona all
in Mupaka town council while schools are Mabuyemeru, Gitovu and Muhaguzi
primary schools.
He also noted that the
influx into Mupaka town council is too high yet there is food shortage in the
area.
The Resident district
commissioner (RDC), Hajji Shafique Ssekandi asked Ugandans not to harass
refugees because the tension in their home country is unbearable. He noted that
UNHCR is organizing transport to get all refugees to Nyakabande transit center.
Asylum seekers say
that fighting is intensifying everyday which has made them suffer so much in
the process of seeking refuge. Some say they had fled from the Bunagana side
thinking the Busanza side will remain safe but they have been left in a state
of dilemma as their children keep dying of bad situations.
Meanwhile, M23 Rebels
spoke to asylum seekers at Busanza border at around 3pm and asked them to get
back home because the situation had normalized which made a few Congolese
nationals cheer.
