Food concerns for Rwandan refugees in Uganda
19/03/2010
Food concerns have been raised regarding Rwandan refugees who are living in south-western Uganda.
There is apprehension over a farming ban that has been imposed on the individuals as it could lead to food security disturbances, Irin News reports.
Proposed money transfers could also give rise to theft and food price hikes, the news provider added.
Festo Wafuta, the senior official in the camp at Nakivale, said: "As yet we do not have a clear solution from the government about the Rwandans … right now most of them are relying on food distributed by WFP [UN World Food Programme]."
Only 5,000 of the refugees left last year when they were given the option to voluntarily repatriate, while the other 16,000 returned to the area after having seen out the allocated return period by staying with nationals nearby.
It was reported earlier in the week that Girls Aloud singer had travelled to Uganda to visit hospitals in the country on behalf of Sport Relief.
Written by Clare Devlin
