After 11 years of separation, Uganda Red Cross, ICRC Uganda, and Partners successfully reunited Dusenge Rambahose (68 years old) with her children, marking a milestone for the Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) programme in Uganda, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
“I will choose to praise the Lord for what he has done for me,” said Dusenge Rambahose (68 years old), lifting her hands.
Dusenge Rambahose, along with her 33-year-old son Rambahose Musekura, and deceased husband, fled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during fierce fighting in March 2012. They lived in Gachemo Binza Kiwanja, DRC, enduring a night of live bullets and violence. Crossing into Uganda, her husband died, and Dusenge, now in Rwamwanja refugee settlement, registered her missing children with Uganda Red Cross at Nyakabande transit center.
Sixty-eight-year-old Dusenge Rambahose, along with her 33-year-old son Rambahose Musekura, and deceased husband, fled DRC 11 years ago during fierce fighting in March 2012.
They lived in Gachemo Binza Kiwanja, DRC, where the night was filled with the sounds of live bullets, resulting in numerous casualties. Dusenge, along with her husband and sick son, crossed into Uganda. Unfortunately, her husband died upon arrival, and he was laid to rest in Rwamwanja refugee settlement in southwestern Uganda.
Upon reaching the Nyakabande transit center, the Uganda Red Cross family tracing desk registered people with missing persons. Dusenge reported missing children who had fled in different directions during the chaos and hadn’t seen each other since.
In 2012, UNHCR Uganda relocated Dusenge from the Nyakabande transit center (Western Uganda) to Rwamwanja refugee settlement (Southwestern Uganda). Through Uganda Red Cross community activities, Dusenge, identified as a vulnerable adult by Restoration of Family Links (RFL) volunteers during routine field follow-ups and sensitizations, lived with her disabled son, Ndengejeho Kwigira (33 years), who had mental and heart conditions, a vision impairment, and couldn’t support himself. The Red Cross team engaged her to locate any relative who could support the family.
The Red Cross team initiated a tracing request, and for the last six years, an intensive search for Dusenge’s family members has been ongoing. A smile covered Dusenge’s face when the tracing request turned positive through both a phone call and a Red Cross Message (TC/RCM). One of her children, Museruka Rambahose (40 years), was traced in Isanja, Juru base camp, Nakivale Refugee Settlement (southern Uganda) on 19.09.2023.
She was thrilled, happy to speak to him on the phone.
Dusenge reunited with her son.
On December 12th, after successfully completing all the Government of Uganda procedures, Dusenge and Ndengejeho were taken by the Uganda Red Cross team from Rwamwanja to Nakivale to reunite with her other son, Museruka. The three met for the first time after 11 years of separation.
“It was an emotional moment for everyone involved,” said Irene Nakasiita, Communications & Partnerships Director at the Uganda Red Cross Society. “Tears of joy, songs of happiness, and much excitement filled the air. Seeing the happiness in their faces after enduring so much pain fills us with gratitude and makes us appreciate the efforts by the Family tracing team. Looking at the distance covered and the process involved brings so much joy to us, knowing that the family can now rejoice together and live together once again, as they used to back home in DRC.”
When asked about how it feels to meet after so long, Dusenge said, “I choose to praise the Lord for what he has done for me.”
“I thank the Red Cross team for helping us meet and reunite after this long time. May God bless you. I can’t cry because I am a man, but I am so happy. I praise the Lord too for bringing my mother in my face. I thought she died,” Musekura said while lifting his hands in the air.
Uganda Red Cross, with support from ICRC, has a program for family unification. Many people are separated from their families due to emergencies such as disasters and war, among other reasons. The program involves case workers covering long distances, tracing children and their parents, vulnerable adults, and all categories of people to reunite them with missing family members. “We use Red Cross messages, phone calls, pictures/photographs, and any information provided by family members to locate any missing persons,” said Benard Manishimwe, Program Officer – RFL Programme.
“Despite all the difficulties, almost every week we see one or several children, adults brought back to where they belong and reunite with their families. We appreciate the support given by the ICRC, the Government of Uganda through the office of the Prime Minister, the department of Refugees, UNHCR, and other Partners involved in Protection-related activities. To reunite children and other separated family members, we need strong partnerships and support from the different players,” Nakasiita added.
Hillary Ahimibisibwe, Assistant Settlement Commandant in charge of Juru Zone (OPM – Nakivale refugee settlement), appreciated the support of the Uganda Red Cross and other Partners who support family tracing and other protection components.
“We were informed about Dusenge’s case, and we thank the Red Cross for making the unification possible. As the Government of Uganda, we commit to supporting all refugees, and we will ensure that she settles well in this settlement, as her new home,” Ahimbisibwe added.
