The agony of losing land and nationality due to the shifting River Semuliki

Part of River Semuliki in Ntoroko district that bursts each year to flood inside Uganda displacing hundreds of people and cattle. Photo by Felix Basiime

BY FELIX BASIIME

NTOROKO: Mr Erick Byabazaire has lived in Kyapa village, Bweramure in Ntoroko district for now 52 years where he owned 5 hectares of land near river Semuliki.

But since 2009, he has lost about 3 hectares to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to river Semuliki changing course inside his land.

“It is costly for me to cross river Semuliki daily (Shs 500 per trip) by a canoe with some of my family members to dig” says Byabazaire, adding, “And when I reach there, Chief Rutahaba demands a goat or a cow or demands between Shs 150,000 to 200,000 to cultivate on my gardens for a year, I have now abandoned the land to DRC because I can’t afford the costs”

“I have one wife, 7 children and 5 grandchildren; I have also adopted 4 children and 2 grandchildren from my brother who died 2 years ago, I support all by growing potatoes and maize on the remaining piece of land which is not enough” he says.

He adds, “When you try to argue your case with the Congolese Chiefs on your land, they ask you that: When you marry a wife and she divorces and you want her back in your home, you go through the same process to re-marry her”

The situation is so painful to people who live near River Semuliki on the Uganda side and Byabazaire is among the over 40 families that have lost their land to DRC.

River Semliki has changed course several times since 1960 as rising water volumes sparked by melting snow caps on Rwenzori Mountains as a result of global warming cause meandering and alteration of the boundary and as such, Uganda is losing territory to its Eastern neighbouring country of DR Congo.

The lives of people on the Uganda side of the river are worsening because they lose their gardens to the Congo side of the river leading to hunger and poverty as agriculture is their main economic activity.

Most people have abandoned their gardens as crossing the river to go and manage their gardens is expensive and risky. At times the river floods and they fear to drown. They also fear crocodiles on the river.

In 2009, the changing course of River Semliki caused confusion between the Uganda and DR Congo governments over the two countries borders.

Changing nationality

According to the district chairman, Mr Timothy Kyamanywa, several communities that used to be Ugandan are now Congolese and a telephone line pole which was installed by Ugandans decades ago now lies within DR Congo. Other land marks that show the changing course of the river at Harukora village in Bweramure include the now submerged pillars of a UTL mast that was 100 metres away 2 years ago.

“When the river shifts, people still know their land but this does not help them, the Congolese Chiefs tell the land owners to consider the land as a divorced wife and ask them to either decide to be Congolese or lose their land” Kyamanywa says.

“There was an upcoming trading centre called Buhotel at Harukora, but now has been abandoned and other residents have shifted to other areas because the river is shifting to the Uganda side” said Mr Herbert Kamuhanda, the district Environmental Officer.

About Semuliki River

It is a major river, 140 kilometres long in DRC and Uganda. The River originates from the Central African Mountains of Nyamulagira in the DRC and flows through Lake Edward, entering the rift valley floor in the DRC on the western side of Rwenzori Mountains and finally the north-eastern end of the mountains where it becomes the international boundary between Uganda and the DRC before entering Lake Albert.

Increasing snowmelt from the Rwenzoris, overgrazing, and other alterations to the watershed have caused bank erosion and frequent changes to the course of the meandering lower reaches of the river.
In some places, Uganda is losing up to 10 metres (33 ft) of land per year on its side of the river to erosion, and silt from the Semliki is gradually filling in the southern end of Lake Albert. In other places, it is the DRC that is losing territory as the changing river course alters the apparent location of the border.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Semuliki River acts as a natural drainage system of the area, contributing 4.89 billion cubic metres of water to the Nile system a year.

According to research conducted by the Climate Change Unit and Uganda's water ministry, 198.5 hectares of ice disappeared between 1906 and 2006 on Mount Speke, one of the highest peaks on the Rwenzori range. Most of the melting occurred after 1987.

Due to this, river Semuliki bursts its banks every year displacing hundreds of people and cattle, destroying property and killing people in the middle and down streams.

In May 2011, about 20,000 residents in Ntoroko starved to death following the floods that hit the district and left some areas cut off.

Why is the river changing course?

According to Mr Herbert Kamuhanda, the district Environmental Officer, several uncontrolled human activities up stream are responsible for both the flooding and changing course of river Semuliki.

“Most rivers; Lamia, Ndugutu,, Nyahuka, Ngite and Kirumia (all in Bundibugyo) are watered by the glaciers on Mount Rwenzori and all empty into River Semuliki” Kamuhanda says, adding, “There are several human activities on these rivers causing flooding and the changing course of river Semuliki”

“At Rwamabare, Kakahenda village in Ntoroko district, water flows to the communities due to siltation of river Semuliki” he says, and adds, “Up stream in Bundibugyo, people cultivate on the river banks and mine sand. At Ntandi (also in Bundibugyo), people throw waste into river Kirumia which is a middle stream of river Semuliki causing siltation and the river bed rises causing banks to burst”.

“At Rukora in Bweramure (Ntoroko), there has been a serious over stocking of animals on free range and roaming, the pastoralists have created several watering points on the river banks causing siltation and the river changes course. The DRC side is okay because there are no cattle” Kamuhanda observes.

He adds, “At Masaka in Butungama and at Kiranga in Rwebisengo sub county, people dig channels to divert water from River Semuliki to water their animals or catch fish and when the river bursts its banks, these channels lead water to the communities and people cry of floods every year since Ntoroko is a flat area”.

Brief facts about Ntoroko

Ntoroko District is located west of the Rwenzori Mountains.  It was carved out of Bundibugyo District in 2010.

It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and north, Hoima District to the northeast, Kibaale District to the east, Kabarole District to the south and Bundibugyo District to the southwest.

Its major activities are fishing, farming and business. Cattle and goat rearing is in Rwebisengo and Nombe, crop farming in Karugutu, Butungama and Bweramule while fishing in Kanara.

Floods have always hit the district to the extent of cutting off some areas while in dry seasons the area is hit by drought. According to the district chairman, Mr Timothy Kyamanywa, the floods have stretched the district budget and resources by increasing the cost of containing malaria especially among the children and malaria drugs get out of stock.

                            

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Semuliki catchment is under a lot of pressure due to increasing population in combination with poor management and governance of natural resources. Deforestation and uncontrolled cattle grazing is leading to widespread erosion. This together with the melting of ice on the Mount Rwenzori, a possible result of climate change, has resulted in siltation, affecting water quality and changing the river course significantly over the years as it enters Lake Albert.

The border between the two countries is endowed with oil and other natural resources.

                                    END

Survival for the fittest in refugee camps in Bundibugyo district

Refugees from the DR Congo mingle maize flour at Bubukwanga camp on Thursday. PHOTO BY RUTH KATUSABE. 

By FELIX BASIIME & RUTH KATUSBE

Posted Monday, July 22, 2013 at 01:00 [http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Survival-for-the-fittest-in-refugee-camps/-/688342/1922488/-/fq0uquz/-/index.html]

In Summary

There is a shortage of food, sanitation is poor and many of the Congolese in camps in Bundibugyo do not have shelter.


BUNDIBUGYO

It is almost two weeks ago when Ms Shalote Nakanwagi, 35, fled her home village of Nubili in Njiapanda in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with hundreds of other refugees and came to Uganda’s hilly Bundibugyo District.

They were fleeing fighting between suspected Allied Democratic Force (ADF) rebels and Congolese government soldiers. Ms Nakanwagi and about 65,000 other refugees were settled at Busunga and several other makeshift camps in Bundibugyo. But since July 11 when they came, it has been survival for the fittest as thousands struggle for food, shelter and health facilities.

“Since I was relocated from Bubandi camp on Monday (July 15) to Bubukwanga refugee camp, I have never got food which is supplied by relief agencies,” she says.

Ms Nakanwagi says this is due to the overwhelming numbers at Bubukwanga camp, where the relief organisations prepare communal food in big saucepans, serving porridge at around 10am and lunch at around 4pm each day.

“We queue up for food, sometimes other refugees do not get food because we are many and the food is little compared to the population. The strong ones struggle and get food, if you are weak you can’t get food” Ms Nakanwagi says.

Ms Tazam Nyota, who fled from Butembo in the DR Congo, says when it is time for meals, people fight in the queues, others pitch camp near the kitchen until food is ready to be served and by the time others get information to line up, they find food is over. “I have my two children surviving on the small package (millet flour) I came with from Congo. I cook and serve them, for me I am starving,” Nyota says.

At these refugee camps, the most suffering are the elderly and children, who do not have the strength to struggle for the scare food and other relief items. “Most of us sleep on empty stomachs. They serve us one meal which others fail to get. Others find their own means of eating once they fail to get on the queue. There is no mercy when it comes to time for food. Some people fall down and they end up being trampled on,” Ms Nyota says.

Most of the refugees still spend nights in the cold under trees as the tents are not enough. Others used their blankets and sticks to build makeshift shelters.

Sanitation at the camp is poor. There is a shortage of pit-latrines. Due to the huge number of refugees, some pit-latrines have been filled up within the first four days of the refugees’ influx.

Red Cross staff are busy registering refugees at Bubukwanga camp as truckloads of refugees arrive daily from other camps. However, some refugees have received some relief aid such as blankets, plastic plates, cups and soap. Vaccination of the children against several killer diseases is ongoing.

Some of the refugees are receiving treatment and expectant mothers have received antenatal services. Some women have given birth in the camps as they fled while pregnant. Bubukwanga camp is located about 75km along Fort Portal- Bundibugyo road behind Bubukwanga Sub-county headquarters.

The nearest water source is about 2km away from the camp and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) brings water to the camp using a tanker daily. The refugees are not allowed to light any candle in the camp. They only use touches supplied to them and some other light source is provided outside at night.

Mr Charles Bafaki, a senior settlement officer in the Office of Prime Minister, says they have so far registered 15,000 refugees at Bubukwanga.
“This is for those who have accepted to be relocated, others refused and returned to Congo,” says Bafaki.

Health services

There are three ambulances in case of any emergencies, especially the expectant mothers. The camp is well equipped with local and International doctors and nurses from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Save the Children, World Vision and Médecins Sans Frontières.

“Our health centre at Bubukwanga is well equipped with drugs and specialists in different sections. Expectant mothers are able to give birth. In case of any referral, our ambulances are fully equipped to transport patients to another hospital,” Mr Bafaki says. Dr Stephen Njoroge Mwaura, the UNHCR health coordinator says 1,180 children have been vaccinated.

“Efforts have been made by Unicef and other organisations, including Save the Children, to provide safe water in the camps with big tanks but water is still a challenge,” Bafaki says.
Pit-latrines in the area are a big challenge because the water table is high and as such pit-latrines are very shallow and fill up quickly.

“We tried to dig up latrines at different camps but the problem is that the area has too much water in the ground. We do not dig beyond 15 feet, we are proposing to use drainable latrines,” Mr Bafaki says.

The UPDF and other volunteers have come in to help in the construction of more accommodation but the numbers of refugees is still overwhelming with fresh fighting reported in DRC on Saturday.

“If the situation persists, I shall notify the Minister of Refugees and Disaster Preparedness so that the refugees be transferred to other refugee camps in Kyangwali (Hoima District) because they are too many and the land is little compared to the population” Mr Bafaki says.

Impact of refugees
There has been a great impact of refugee settlement on the people and authorities of Bundibugyo. The schools in Nyahuka and Bubandi sub-counties, such as Kalera, Busulu, Butoogo, Bubandi, Busunga, and Bughendera have since July 11 closed because they were turned into refugee camps and the latrines are full.

The pit-latrines need to be emptied. Some of the furniture at the schools was used as firewood by the refugees. “In most of the schools the sanitation is not good. These refugees exposed human wastes in some of the places because the population was big,” Mr Bafaki says.
The relocation of refugees to Bubukwanga has also affected 30 families that had their gardens on government land destroyed to pave way for the construction of tents for refugees.

Security in camps
“Security is calm, we have a 24-hour security patrol in the camp but the challenge is that some of the refugees still use charcoal stoves yet they are abolished but we are going to fight it, we fear fire outbreak in the camp,” Mr Bafaki says.

The State Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Mr Musa Ecweru, on Friday asked Unicef, World Vision and Save the Children to renovate the affected schools and asked the World Food Programme to give relief aid to the 30 families affected by refugee’s relocation to Bubukwanga.

Congolese Refugees in Bundibugyo, Uganda

When war leaves more than 800 children stranded

Congolese refugees take shelter under trees in Bundibugyo District. They fled DR Congo last week after fighting broke out between the ADF rebels and government forces in the eastern town of Kamango.  

By RUTH KATUSABE & FELIX BASIIME

Posted Wednesday, July 17 2013 at 01:00

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/When-war-leaves-more-than-800-children-stranded/-/691232/1916900/-/3t4o6nz/-/index.html

In Summary

Neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo has a fight on its hands trying to fend off the Allied Democratic Force rebels but for Uganda the problem is in looking after the thousands of people who have fled into the country, many of who are children, whose parents cannot be traced.

Last Thursday morning, 10-year-old Sarah Mahabu’s family as she knew it changed when rebels attacked their town in eastern DR Congo.

“When we heard gunshots, we just ran out of our house with both parents and my four brothers and sisters. Our parents told us to take cover in the bushes and told us to keep quiet but later things became worse and they told us to shift from the hideout.

As we were running, we lost each other and I found myself alone. I could not go back to look for my parents and brothers,” Mahabu recalls the ordeal.

Alone and frightened, Mahabu says, “I was pushed by other people to run, who told me that my relatives will find me later and I didn’t know where they were taking me. I found myself alone in the camp in Uganda and I don’t know if my relatives are alive or not.”

Extent of the crisis
Mahabu is one of more than 800 Congolese children now living in the refugee camps in Bundibugyo District, who found their way into Uganda as they fled the insecurity in DR Congo.

It started when, according to Lt Ninsiima Rwemijuma, the Army spokesperson for the Rwenzori region, the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) rebels in conjunction with the Mai-Mai rebels fought Congolese government forces at Kamango Town Council in eastern DR Congo, about 15km away from the DRC-Uganda border.

Harriet Ntabazi, the Bundibugyo Woman MP, says out of the more than 30,000 refugees living in camps at Butogo, Kasili, Busunga, Bubandi, Busulo, Buhula and Bundingoma, more than 800 children do not know where their parents are and that as leaders, they have tried to trace them in other camps but have failed. “We do not know whether their parents are still alive in their hideouts of Congo or in Uganda,” she said.

Some kind parents in Bundibugyo are currently helping some of the children with food and accommodation while, “some of the children are sleeping under the trees, compound and verandahs and it rains on them. Some of them are suffering from fever, and without medical care,” Ntabazi expounds on the condition of these children.

Expectant mothers in the camps
The fight did not affect only children but men and women too. One of these women is Mariam Asad.

“When the rebels attacked our home town, we were still asleep, we only heard gun shots, then shortly I heard knocks and kicks on our neighbour’s door, I dashed through the window and ran away, living behind my husband and child,” she says. Luckily enough, Asad had slept in a night dress and her neighbours helped her with some dresses as they all fled.

“I could not bother about my child at that time because I am pregnant and sometimes the rebels are kind to children,” she explains.

According to Ntabazi, Asad is one of the 2,000 women who fled to Uganda while pregnant, “But 12 of the pregnant women have so far given birth in the last few days, we used our ambulances to take them to the health units and they delivered successfully,” she adds.

How it is affecting the area
The district chairman, Jolly Tibemanya, says of the refugee situation: “Camps are overwhelmed and our school toilets are full, these people are exposed to human waste, especially the young children who are not attended to and there might be an outbreak of cholera any time.” He adds that as a result of the large number of refugees, more than seven schools have closed because they were turned into refugee camps.

District leaders have asked the Red Cross, UNHCR and Office of the Prime Minister to relocate the refugees. Most of them use River Ndugutu as their main water source and as such there is a threat of poor sanitation and hygiene.

“Some of the refugees bathe in the river while others get drinking water from it, which is not safe,” Ntabazi opines, cementing Tibemanya’s fears of a cholera outbreak.