NORTHERN PROVINCE

GATUNA — A Rwandanparentless refugee boy was a centre of controversy as to whether he should be allowed to remain in Rwanda or be taken back to Uganda.

Jean Pierre Niyonsaba aged 17  was among  the 185 Rwandan refugees who were repatriated from Nakivale refugee settlement camp in Western Uganda.

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and National Council for Refugees officials in Rwanda were baffled when they  later discovered the boy’s name  was not appearing on returnees’ manifest, upon arriving at Rukomo returnees’ transit camp, about 30km from Gatuna border.

In separate interview with The New Times, the boy said he had been living without parents at Nakivale camp since 2007, after his parents Emmanuel Munyankumburwa and Sperancie Mukamanzi were repatriated.

He was left behind when he had gone to the neighboring villages to perform casual labor tasks. Niyonsaba said he made several attempts to get repatriated like others, but UNHCR and refugee officials based at Nakivale camp had always adamantly refused to register him for repatriation.

"My parents live in Musheri Cell of Musheri Sector in Nyagatare District”, said Niyonsaba.

A Ugandan official charged with refugees’ matters in the Prime Minister’s office Pelez Nkoshaho, who accompanied the returnees last week said parentless children under 18 years of age at refugee camps in Western Uganda are normally accorded special repatriation procedures.

"Children without parents need to be accorded special repatriation, because they have to be relocated to their respective parents in Rwanda. It is a delicate exercise which requires us to work closely with Rwandan Government officials to see that such children get settled in their families, without any difficulties encountered,” said Nkoshaho.

He further recommended that Niyonsaba be returned to Nakivale camp, to await the official repatriation program of parentless children.

However, a representative of the Ministry of Local government Damascene Uburiyemurye, who was among Rwandan Government officials that welcomed the returnees at Gatuna border, refuted the idea of returning Niyonsaba to Nakivale camp.

"We can’t return a Rwandan back to exile for mere registration exercise”, he said. Uburiyemurye said the boy should be transported back to his parents in Nyagatare District by the National council for Refugees.

He recommended that UNHCR and the National Council for Refugees accord the boy all the assistance rendered to other returnees, regardless of his name not appearing on the returnees’ manifest.

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