During the 1994 mass migration of Rwandan refugees into the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, what many people didn’t realize was that there was also an influx of Rwandan refugees into Uganda. This week, fifteen years after the earth shattering Rwandan genocide, 20,000 refugees are finally returning home. Even though this is an important step towards the full restoration of a severely fractured society, one cannot help but wonder why has it taken so long?

The return and reintegration of refugees is an issue often overlooked during displacement crises. After aid groups rush in to provide humanitarian assistance and stabilize life threatening situations, refugee groups are often forgotten. Over a decade after the establishment of peace in Rwanda, refugee groups in Uganda are still reluctant to repatriate back to their home country. This is largely due to lack of sensitization programs that will convince the predominantly Hutu population that they will not be stigmatized upon their return to Rwanda. However, now that the Government of Rwanda has convinced groups that they will be safe and protected from harm if they return, it is important that this promise be fulfilled.

During Refugees International’s mission to Burundi last August, we found a telling example of the problems refugees face when trying to return. In this instance, the return process was delayed due to land disputes and overcrowded transit sites. Many refugees found themselves creating makeshift shelters while they waited to claim their land, and those that were lucky enough to return could not find sufficient opportunities in education and livelihood activities. Recently, UNHCR announced that camps in western Tanzania for Burundian refugees will close in June. 50,000 Burundians -- half of which have been in Tanzania since 1972 -- will be repatriated back to their homeland.  We can only hope that the issues we saw last year have been rectified and the return process will be smoother.

With ongoing fighting in central and eastern Africa, programs that help displaced people return home and reintegrate into their communities are being overlooked. Yet, they are needed more than ever. In order to mitigate conflict, it is important that the basic needs of civilians are met. Greed, but more often need, can lead to grievance. Now that the Government of Rwanda has dedicated itself to informing refugees about peace and stability in Rwanda, they must also go a step further and ensure that returning refugees are able to succeed in a society that is virtually unknown to most of them.

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