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CENTRE BONDEKO was founded in 1997 by Rev. Father Michel Lingisi in response to the Massive flow of Congolese refugees fleeing the armed conflict in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Most of these displaced people; especially women and children suffer from various trauma and lack of facilities.
The Centre offers them social and spiritual assistance, shelter, food, provides them with Primary health care and accompanies the a sylum seekers to obtain legal status (documents)
In April 2000, the centre has assisted over 764 Congolese refugees including women, children, elderly people and Human Rights defenders. And 72 people amongst the beneficiaries have been resettled abroad.
Currently CENTRE BONDEKO shelters 188 refugees among them 40 orphans whom their parents died in the ongoing war inCongo or here in Uganda (their country of asylum) either by diseases (HIV) or killed by Ugandans. All these people living at CENTRE BONDEKO are recognized by the UNHCR with legal papers but are not assisted at all but are abandoned on their fate. They don't have a choice to stay in Uganda, one of the countries causing the insecurity and instability in their home country (DRC). These poor widows are frequently sexually assaulted by the UPDF soldiers who rape them when going to church, market or to the river and infect them with AIDS. Children are being hunted by the Uganda army to be recruited into the army by force and be taken back to the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight their own brothers. Thus, WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE OF THESE POOR CHILDREN? For adult people, they are killed everyday by some Ugandan or Rwandese men in uniform. It's very sad to inform you that on the date of 26th June 2001, the Uganda Soldiers on Entebbe Road gunned down our brother MBOYO NDJATE BENOIT who was staying with us at the Centre when he was coming back from the Airport escorting his friend who was travelling abroad. He left 4 children and who have added the number of orphans we care for at CENTRE BONDEKO. Truly these vulnerable at the centre are living a life of trauma and insecurity.
Well, the major problems the centre is facing currently is that the number of refugees coming is increasing day by day for the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is getting worse and worse. Thus, the centre is facing a serious financial problem in terms of:
Feeding the persons living at the centre
Providing sufficient sleeping facilities such as beds, mattresses, bed-covers, blankets, bed-sheets
Primary Health care
Enough space for sleeping because I am renting a flat of 8 rooms and in each room we put at least 12 persons plus an outside garage which is used also as a room.
Due to lack of means to pay the school fees of the children for the public schools, therefore, we have started our own school at CENTRE BONDEKO so as to equip our children with Educational knowledge. This school operates with 6 classes as a primary school and lessons are offered in French program plus English as a second language for social integration. We have also a literacy school for adults where they learn how to write while others learn English for communication. The teachers are some of the Congolese refugees staying at the Centre and who are skilled in teaching and are teaching for free of charge.
Thereby, we are unable to carry out properly our activities and reach our objectives because we are blacked by lack of:
Teaching materials: books, exercises books
Food for the children
Uniforms (Clothing)
Benches, tables, desks and shelves
Genuine classrooms: the school building we are using is not finished and the children are learning in an inhuman condition while standing up the whole day
Basic facilities for the centre
The above-mentioned basic needs have forced me to come to you and ask for your help so as to diminish the sufferings of these poor vulnerable displaced orphans.
May God bless you for your generosity and humanitarian heart of sharing.
Reverend Father Michel Lingisi
Centre Bondeko
P.O Box : 26906/Kampala
E-mail: mlingisi@yahoo.fr
Tel : 256 77451480
Fax : 246 41349919
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