Plight of Rwandan students under review

UNHCR and the Ugandan government on Wednesday denied press claims that there were more than 120 Rwandan students in Uganda whose whereabouts were not clear. Uganda’s Deputy Director for Refugees Carlos Twesigomwe told IRIN that his office was only aware of about 40 students who had sought asylum. “The process to determine their status will be reviewed this coming Friday,” he said. “I have no idea of the extra number. We don’t know where they are, or where they are coming from.” A UNHCR official in Kampala also told IRIN that they knew of 60 students who had sought asylum but added that UNHCR had found no evidence of persecution against the group, and therefore “does not intend to provide them with humanitarian assistance”. The Rwanda News Agency (RNA) last Friday said the whereabouts of some 120 Rwandan students, mainly from the country’s Butare University, was “not clear”. According to RNA, the issue was discussed by Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni during a recent meeting in Kampala. The two presidents resolved that the students did not qualify for refugee status but Museveni suggested they could be allowed to study in Uganda.