Uganda has handed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over 46 children affected by recent fighting in Congo.

According to Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, the children were screened and verified from a part of a group of over 1,600 M23 fighters who surrendered recently to the Ugandan military and are currently held in a military cantonment in Kasese district.

Lucy Beck, the associate External Relations Officer for UNHCR Mbarara Sub-Office said that although the children were screened from the surrendered fighters, they were found to be civilian and handed over to UNHCR.

“They are all unaccompanied minors and as such as need special attention and protection,” said Beck.

The transfer of the fighters to Kasese came after the Congolese FARDC forces backed by the UN Intervention Brigade, drove M23 from its strongholds in eastern DR Congo.

The signing of a peace agreement between the DRC government and M23 was put off after disagreement cropped up over the terms and conditions.

The Congolese government objected to signing a truce with M23 on grounds that there was no peace agreement to sign with a group which had denounced war.

There have been reports of Congo demanding Uganda to handover M23 military head Sultani Makenga to face trial for crimes committed in Congo. However, Ofwono said he was not aware of any such demand from the Congolese.

“Uganda cannot hand over anybody yet,” Ofwono said, in a phone interview with The New Vision.

Recently, Ofwono said that Uganda does not expect demands to hand over directly people who have surrendered, to the DRC government. He said Uganda would follow international law, conventions and protocols governing people who have fled danger in their countries.

According to Musa Ecweru, the State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, there are currently over 236, 000 Congolese refugees currently living in Uganda in the refugee settlements in Hoima, Arua, Isingiro, and Kamwenge districts.

Beck said that the UN body is not involved with the issue of M23 fighters because they have not sought asylum in Uganda.
UNHCR refused to comment on the asylum status of Makenga who is currently in Uganda under the protection of the military.

“In regards to the status of individual members of the M23 leadership – as an organisation our highest duty is to the asylum-seekers and refugees we serve. For this reason we never discuss individual cases – even to confirm or deny whether someone has filed an application with us. I am sure you can understand this is for the protection of the individuals themselves,” said Beck.