EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE—Following Uganda?s deportation of 3,000 Rwandan refugees from Isingiro District in western Uganda, 95 returnees have been welcomed in Nyagatare.

Almost all who returned the district were originally born or raised there, making years of journey and exclusion from Rwandan community come full circle.

"All of were born in Nyagatare, except our infants who were born in exile,” says returnee Mukarugwiza.

"We fled to Tanzania [after 1990] where we relocated ourselves to Uganda where me and my family have lived for about ten years. I see now Nyagatare is a big town and a lot has changed in Rwanda. This is amazing and beautiful.” The returnees were all women, as the men and husbands must go through solidarity camps before returning home.

"We were surrounded at night by armed police and in the morning we were forced to board trucks without questioning but the Ugandan authorities never looted our properties. They directed us to board the Fuso trucks with all our properties.” At Nyagatare district returnees were received by vice-mayor for economic and development affairs Anselme Majoro Rurangwa, who warmly welcomed them home.

"All the returnees are going in Matimba sector and again in Nyabwishyogwezi cell. We have decided to let them first relax and register at Matimba sector offices as their families are preparing to receive them,” Rurangwa said.

All deported returnees were first camped in Gicumbi district where they were dispersed to their home districts in different parts of the country.

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