Border Communities Flee to DRC Over Fears of Post-Election Violence

As Ugandans head for the presidential and parliamentary elections next Thursday, some locals and voters settling at the Uganda–DRC borders in the Bunyoro and West Nile sub-regions have expressed fears of possible post-election violence, compelling them to start seeking early refuge in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In the Bunyoro sub-region, available information gathered by Uganda Radio Network (URN) indicates that a handful of residents, especially those on the shores of Lake Albert in Hoima, Buliisa, and Kikuube, have been silently escaping to seek refuge in the DRC through the Lake Albert waters since last week, fearing that violence could emerge after the elections. Most of these people have relatives in the DRC.

Local leaders and security officials in the two regions are, however, calling on citizens to remain calm, saying their security in the country is guaranteed before, during, and after the elections.

Joseph Kyamanywa, a voter in Bombo Sub-county in Hoima District, which shares a border with the DRC, explains that most people in the area fear there could be violence after the elections, compelling those with relatives in the DRC to cross over and seek early refuge.

Charles Bahemurwaki, a resident of Wanseko landing site in Buliisa District, says it is true that many people are silently escaping to the DRC to seek refuge, fearing that violence could break out after the elections.

Edward Okello, a voter in Kasenyi-Lyato village, Buseruka Sub-county in Hoima, says many voters in the area fear credible threats of violence and disruption of peace after the elections. He has appealed to security to heavily deploy and combat individuals who may cause commotion during and after the elections.

Collins Agaba, a voter at Buhuka landing site in Kangwali Sub-county in Kikuube, which also shares a border with the DRC, says that despite the fact that some people are seeking refuge in the DRC ahead of the elections, he is not bothered since the security of Ugandans is guaranteed during and after the elections.

He has, however, appealed to fellow citizens not to fear, but rather to exercise their constitutional rights by fully participating in the electoral process.

Robert Musika, a resident living along the Uganda–DRC border in Hoima, appeals for calm, noting that the security situation in Uganda is guaranteed. He wonders why some people have opted to cross to the DRC, thinking that violence could erupt.

Moses Asaba, the LC3 Chairperson for Butiaba Town Council in Buliisa, admits that some locals with relatives in the DRC are escaping to seek early refuge, thinking that Uganda could be destabilized after the elections.

He says some of those crossing to the DRC are disguising themselves as businessmen and women going to transact business.

Asaba has called on voters in his area to remain calm, saying the country has a robust security surveillance network to detect and combat any form of violence.

Ali Tinkamanyire, the Buseruka Sub-county LC3 Chairperson, who shares a border with the DRC, appealed to voters in the area to remain calm, saying no one will jeopardize peace in the country. He too admits that some locals are silently crossing to the DRC to seek refuge should there be violence in the country.

Tinkamanyire has, however, rallied voters in the area to turn up in big numbers to cast their votes in order to elect leaders of their choice.

In Ayivu West Constituency in Arua District, which borders DR Congo, some voters say that, for safety reasons and due to the unknown election aftermath, they have decided to make arrangements to seek safety in case violence erupts.

They say that, based on the history of elections—especially in the 1970s and 1980s in Uganda—and the likely cost of changing the NRM government that has been in power for the last 40 years, some have remained skeptical about their security during and after the January 15 elections.

Bernard Atiku, an independent parliamentary candidate for Ayivu West Constituency, which shares a border with the DRC, urges security to be vigilant and allow people to move freely for their daily activities along the border with DR Congo.

Christopher Obia, a retired police officer and a voter living near the border with the DRC, has dispelled locals’ fears, noting that if there were an anticipated insurgency, it would have already been detected.

Osman Ezale, the Returning Officer of Arua City, which borders DR Congo, says there is no need to fear post-election violence and urges voters along the border to ensure a peaceful election process to avoid violence that may drive them away from their country.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, admits that intelligence reports indicate that a handful of Ugandans living along the shores of Lake Albert fear violence could break out and have started crossing to seek refuge in the DRC.

He has assured citizens of heightened security before, during, and after the elections, saying the Uganda Police Force (UPF) is mandated to maintain peace and order during elections, ensure the safety of voters and candidates, safeguard electoral materials, and oversee the tallying of results, adding that no violence will erupt.

Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godwine Angalia says the security of all voters is guaranteed, urging them not to fear. He says security personnel have been deployed at all porous border points in the district to prevent infiltration by wrong elements from the DRC.

He has, however, appealed to voters and locals to remain vigilant by reporting any suspicious people or objects to security personnel.