Elections 2023: Thousands of Congolese residing in Uganda move to Ituri to participate in voting

Thousands of Congolese living in Uganda have been flocking for a week to the lakeside localities of the Djugu and Irumu territories (Ituri) to vote for their candidates in the elections on Wednesday, December 20th.

Among these voters are refugees who had fled the abuses of armed groups in their respective areas.

This movement of Congolese returning home can be observed every day, especially in the lakeside localities of Tchomia, Kasenyi, Joo, and Gbi.

According to the immigration service, the number of Congolese returning home to vote is "six times higher than the normal arrivals".

On Tuesday, two fast boats disembarked over sixty people at Kasenyi.

The same day, other Congolese, mainly refugees who have been living for about five years at the Tchangwali camp in Uganda, landed in Tchomia and towards Joo on the shores of Lake Albert.

These individuals have the benefit of logistical resources provided by certain political actors who send boats to the lakeside localities in Uganda such as Rwabisengo, Toroko, Rwangara.

However, they are concerned about a possible closure of the borders between Uganda and the DRC. On their part, security services say they have received no instructions on this matter so far.