Frank Mugabi
12 July 2009
Kampala — SUDANESE refugees are being relocated from two of the settlements in the West Nile that are due for closure. The exercise will involve the transfer of at least 80 families from Ikafe and Madi Okollo settlements to Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Maracha/Terego district.
It is carried out by the Office of the Prime Minister and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
John Alinaitwe, a refugee desk officer in Arua, said the refugees were being concentrated in one area after the bulk of them returned home. "From over 50,000 refugees, we now have less than 500 in Madi Okollo and about 200 in Ikafe. This has made it difficult to maintain the two settlements."
Alinaitwe disclosed that the refugee leaders had opted for Imvepi because it has enough space, fertile land and social services like health units, schools and water sources.
On arrival, each family received plastic sheets, garden tools, kitchen ware, blankets, soap and jerry cans.
The majority of the Sudanese, who had stayed in Uganda for over 20 years, have taken advantage of the voluntary repatriation programme that was launched in 2006 to return home.
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