Rwandese survivors of the genocide still at risk

While working for the Uganda Red Cross I interviewed and photographed Rwandese refugees in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement. See http://www.eyesofchange.com/rwanda

Rwandese refugees in Uganda facing forced return as the cessation clause is invoked.

During the 1994 genocide and aftermath, thousands of Rwandese fled to neighboring countries to escape violence and death. Many Rwandese refugees entered Uganda and started living in designated settlements. The persecution did not stop though. The Rwandese government started chasing refugees in the vicinity a few years later. In Uganda it happened in the form of forced repatriation. In 2003, the governments of Rwanda and Uganda and the UNHCR signed an agreement to repatriate about 30,000 refugees living in Uganda. There have been repeated attempts to forcibly return refugees to Rwanda in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011. Also, since 2010 all refugees from Rwanda were prohibited from cultivating their land in Kyaka II settlement, which makes their livelihoods even more challenging. The cessation clause, by which Rwandese refugee status would be brought to an end by 31 December 2011, is also being invoked. Therefore, currently thousands of Rwandese refugees face the risk of having to return to their country when there have not been substantial, effective and durable changes to ensure their safety upon return.

See http://www.eyesofchange.com/rwanda

Why am I here? Why am I in this settlement? Why am I in Uganda?

While working for the Uganda Red Cross I interviewed and photographed refugees from Congo, living in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement. See: http://www.eyesofchange.com/congo

Congo: a war that never seems to end. A constant flow of asylum seekers.

“I do not know the real cause of war. It has been ongoing for so many years”, says a Congolese refugee.

Congo. A vast country. Lots of minerals. Illegal exploitation of natural resources. Many tribes. Tribal war for decades. War is part of Congolese’s past and present. Guns, bullets, killings, chopping of bodies and violence. Fear, torture, rape, sacking, prison, child soldiers, forced recruitment.

Kyaka II. A refugee settlement. Set up in 1967. 81 km². More than 15.000 refugees. Western Uganda. 9 zones, each with 4-6 villages. 5 primary schools. 90% of the refugees are from Congo.

Bare houses. No windows. No bed. No mattress. No chair. No table. No food. No electricity. No water. Sometimes a calendar or a poster on the wall. 1 or 2 pieces of clothes.

Strong people. Fled from war. Ran away at gunpoint. Suffered torture, bad and inhuman treatment. Escaped. Walked for days without any personal belongings to cross a border in the hope of safety. Lost members of the family. Had to leave them behind. Miss the relatives and friends.

People who have no option but to rely on foreign aid. Granted a small piece of land in Uganda. Barely able to live out of subsistence. Policies that do not help them to become self-reliant. Bad treatment for some, a safe heaven for others. Hoping to return to their country of origin. Simply willing to live in peace. Wishing to be re-settled to another country.

See: http://www.eyesofchange.com/congo

A special encounter: Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.

Gorillas are huge, robust and furry. It is amazing to actually be able to get as close as 4 metres from such large forest animals. Gorillas are docile, peaceful, relaxed, lazy and slow. Each of their movements is carefully though as if not to spend energy unnecessarily. Gorillas enjoy loving and caring for their families. In between eating leaves and more leaves, gorillas cuddle and hug each other with a lot of affection.

Mountain gorillas live in groups (from 8 to 40 individuals) and there are usually between 1 and 3 silverbacks – the strong dominant males. This group I saw is called Oruzogo.