Some South Sudanese refugees in large settlements in West Nile region have started returning home voluntarily.
Authorities in the settlements, say at least 71 refugees have voluntarily returned to the South Sudan capital, Juba through Oraba boarder point since December last year.
Solomon Osakana, the Arua District Refugee Desk Officer, says the decision of the refugees to return home follow a dramatic decline in the number of refugees seeking asylum in Uganda. According to Osakana, the last group of refugees numbering about 200 and 100 people arrived in Koboko and Yumbe districts respectively in October last year.
Osakana says currently less than 20 refugees are resettled from Koboko and Yumbe districts in Arua district every day compared to hundreds previously. The influx of refugees into west Nile sub region declined sharply by the end of December from more than 500 refugees to about 170 only.
Joseph Nashion, one of the refugees says those returning were motivated to go home by the improving security situation in Juba and other areas. He says most of the refugees went and assessed the security situation before returning.
David Apollo Kazungu, the Commissioner for Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister, says they hope the situation will remain peaceful to encourage more voluntary repatriation.
