KABALE – Bunagana Primary School authorities, in Kisoro district are celebrating after received Ugx178 from United Nations High Commission for Refugees – UNHCR as a reward for hosting Congolese refugees.
The money will be used to construct a three-classroom block, in addition to face-lifting other facilities, according the school managers.
The school, which is located at the Uganda – DR Congo border was, in March and April this year, closed for more than two weeks to host refugees who were fleeing the fighting between FARDC soldiers and the M23 rebels in Rutshuru territory. Even after reopening, the refugees still occupied the school premises until September when the UNHCR and the Kisoro local government authorities forcefully evicted them.
Paul Ali-Pauni Shelubale –the head of UNHCR in charge of Western Uganda revealed that part of the money would be credited onto the accounts of Jemaso Enterprise Limited –a construction company that was awarded the contract for the works.
He confirmed that the gesture was to an expression of gratitude to the school management as well as members of the communities for exhibiting hospitality towards the refugees.
Haj Shafiq Ssekandi – Kisoro RDC revealed that UNHCR had also pledged to construct a 5-star VIP latrine at the school.
The head teacher of Bunagana Primary School – Godfrey Bigira, commended UNHCR for the gesture.
M23 rebels still occupy several parts of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo territories including the Uganda-DRC border of Bunagana and Busanza/Kitagoma – a stance that has forced the European Union – EU to slap sanctions against the M23 rebels’ spokesperson, Major Willy Ngoma.
DR Congo authorities claim that the rebels’ activities have backing from the Kigali regime –allegations, which Rwanda authorities have since dismissed as baseless.
Rebels, on the other hand insist to be fighting DR Congo government’s tendencies of corruption, xenophobia and segregation.
Additional reporting by URN
