SUPPORT VULNERABLE DISPLACED PEOPLE FROM CONGO

Over 100 people have been supported to remain in Uganda because of the Ebola outbreak in Democratic republic of Congo. Refugees typically move in and out of Uganda depending on the volatile security situation in Congo. Congolese refugees frequently move back and forth between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to escape sudden escalations of violence in eastern DRC. When fighting flares up, they cross into Uganda for safety, but often return home to check on their farms, tend to livestock, or salvage remaining property during temporary periods of calm. Additionally, prolonged confinement in overcrowded transit centers and settlements—combined with severe cuts to international food and aid budgets—drives many to take the risk of going back. They constantly communicate with people who remain behind. If the situation is a bit calm, they move back to their homes. If it becomes more volatile, they come back to Uganda. The outbreak of Ebola in DRC which the world Health organization declared as public health emergency of international concern. On the 15th of May 2026. The health system in DRC is extremely poor because of the war situation in Eastern Congo. A number of cases crossed to Uganda to get better Healthcare and that is how cases were reported in Uganda. To prevent further escalation of the cases a number of people who were already in Uganda were prevented from crossing back to DRC to avoid being infected and also to prevent importing more cases to Uganda. Escalating conflict in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo led to an influx of refugees crossing the border into Uganda. Over a one-month period, more than 10,000 people, 80% of them women and children, fled the Kivu region. They were escaping attacks against civilians, arbitrary killings, rape, abductions, looting and forced recruitment into armed groups. Arriving tired, hungry and scared, often separated from their families, refugees entered camps housing 1.4 million people, close to two thirds of whom were children. Many children were exposed to extreme violence (or victims themselves) in their communities, and encountered further risk along the route to Uganda as they fled with their families or alone. These children required safe places to learn and play as well as access to psychosocial support and health services.

Kigezi Healthcare Foundation has trained over 100 vulnerable people displaced from Congo on Human trafficking. Vulnerable groups, such as refugees and asylum seekers, face a heightened risk of human trafficking due to their precarious situations, and different online scams are used to lure and convince the vulnerable groups for jobs and good living conditions. Migrants and refugees are especially vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labor, and modern slavery for several reasons Conflict and displacement, Persons fleeing conflict or humanitarian emergencies often lack formal migration channels, forcing them to rely on illicit actors for safety, which increases their risk. Economic hardship and difficult living conditions, Poverty and the urgent need for income make individuals susceptible to false promises of well-paying jobs, leading to exploitation in industries like agriculture, construction, or domestic work. Lacking official identification and having an insecure immigration status weaken victims' defenses and make them hesitant to seek help from authorities. Isolation, language difficulties, and lack of access to support services prevent victims from escaping their situation and reporting abuse. Traffickers increasingly use digital tools to recruit, control, and exploit victims’ online recruitment mainly social media platforms and online job boards are prime hunting grounds where AI-generated advertisements and targeted multilingual campaigns lure victims with false promises. Digital surveillance and control Criminal networks use encrypted communication and digital surveillance to monitor and control victims, often leveraging mobile phones as both tools for traffickers and potential lifelines for victims. New forms of exploitation include generative artificial Intelligence tools used to create non-consensual sextortion schemes to coerce victims into compliance. It is critical to educate the vulnerable groups and create avenues for the to report any people who are highly suspected to be involved in Human trafficking.