KISORO: Thousands of Congolese refugees that crossed into Uganda on Sunday and Monday have now returned to their country following DRC army reclaimed territory from rebels.
On Tuesday, 09 November 2021, several refugees with their luggage were seen crossing the border at Bunagana in Kisoro District.
“I am happy that the situation has normalized and now I am going back to my country,” Mr Claude Mbaswa Murhola, a refugee said.
The Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, Mr Peter Mugisha, said there are indications that the security situation across the border has returned to normal.
“We are going to hold a security meeting to discuss the proper management of the situation as the Congolese refugees return to their country,” Mr Mugisha said.
An armed group, believed to be the M23 rebels, carried out attacks in Chanzu and Runyonyi, in the country’s eastern region of North Kivu, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes on Monday and Sunday.
The fighting was said to be happening less than 10km (six miles) from the Ugandan border.
But the DRC army on Tuesday said it had pushed back the rebels.
The Congolese army has blamed Sunday’s attack on M23 rebels, but the group has denied any involvement.
The group had a powerful insurgency in the country in 2012, but was defeated by national government forces in 2013.