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IF YOU RETURN HOME


By Ayella John Bosco.
17th May 2025

In 2013, a senseless war broke out in South Sudan within the SPLM political party, sending millions into exile. Uganda, among other countries, hosts the greatest number of South Sudanese refugees, a business that started long ago. Most of these refugees are from the Equatoria region, with Eastern and Central Equatoria leading because of their proximity to Uganda, let alone my entire county of Magwi County.

These refugees live on the total expenses of the UN WFP, which distributes food and some cash monthly. A few years down the road, the WFP reduced the distribution of food by some percentage. Last month it reduced by 90%, in other words, if one was receiving 15$ a month, they now receive less by 90%. This is terrible to survive a family of three, given the dire life experiences the refugees faced, but what is the secret to all this?

While some of us frequently called on our fellows to return home to protect their lands and properties from cattle invasions, the Government of South Sudan, politically, has been calling the Equatorian refugees to return home at a time when there is no peace in the country.  They used their state puppets and county agents to pressure the refugees to return home, forgetting the IDPs in the protection of civilians' sites, and the self-imposed IDPs in the communities' land and homes. Nevertheless, what is next, then?

To the refugees in the camps, life and death are not choices, but they are part of us. We live to leave, or leave to live, yet it is a two-way decision. Having experienced dependency syndromes in camps, it is better to live and die within your village than to die and be buried as a refugee. It is therefore imperative that you consider returning and rebuilding your homes where you will live and wait to leave peacefully.

To the people of Magwi County living in refugee camps, it is high time you returned home and rebuilt. Despite all the challenges and unforeseen hurdles, we can handle our business collectively and overcome them. Let us forget being cheap to develop by focusing on self-reliance and utilisation of our God-given resources

On note, although we criticise the government for all the wrongs they do, we are happy that it has renovated some of the schools and health facilities it destroyed. These schools and health facilities are standing idle because of your absence. We believed that if you returned home, they would be reequipped for use immediately.

Finally, let us return home, even if it is not secure, no one will secure it for us but us. We have all it takes to overcome insecurity and move forward. Along with our governor and county authority, we shall pressure situations to our comfort. Return home because home is the best, instead of continuously fighting for meagre food


Ayella John Bosco 
Writer, Critic and Activist. This article is solely the work of the author and does not represent someone's opinions. Reach me at abunerry700.v@gmail.com

 

 

 

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