{{Burundi and Uganda and the UNHCR will hold technical meetings that will add inertia to earlier efforts to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees in the country.}}
The decision to hold the meetings that will discuss the modalities for the repatriation of the refugees .
Apollo Kazungu, the commissioner for refugees in the Office of Prime minister of Uganda said, there was need to discuss the finer details of how the exercise will be conducted.
Kazungu said it was crucial that all the refugees who want to return do so at their own will. “If it is necessary, where there is doubt and some of them want to first visit before so as to enable them make informed decisions that can be arranged.”
“What is important is that it must be voluntarily,” he added. The development comes after both the governments of Uganda and Burundi and the UNHCR signed a tripartite agreement for the voluntary repatriation of the refugees in March this year. Presently there are about 13,000 Burundian refugees in Uganda.
The agreement among others establishes a framework for the voluntary return of Burundian refugees in Uganda; specifies a right of return of the refugees without any preconditions; defines the responsibilities of the parties and establishes a tripartite commission and a technical working group.
NV
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