Over 200 Returnees Registered in Yei River County

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – More than 200 returnees from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been registered in Yei River County, as authorities and partners met to coordinate humanitarian and development work in the area.

The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Yei River County confirmed the registration figures during an Area Reference Group (ARG) meeting held on Wednesday 2nd September 2026.

Maba Moses, an RRC official, called on humanitarian and development partners to provide livelihood assistance and other essential services based on the needs of returnees, internally displaced people and other vulnerable communities.

He also urged the government and partners to maintain support for communities in Yei to help reduce hardship among vulnerable households.

The meeting brought together county authorities, local government departments and humanitarian and development partners to discuss humanitarian, recovery and development priorities in Yei River County.

The Area Reference Group meeting is held during the first week of every month and provides a forum for government departments and partners operating in Yei to coordinate their activities and discuss community needs.

Speaking during the meeting, the Commissioner of Yei River County, Samuel Henry Malimbo, called for closer cooperation between the government, humanitarian partners and local communities to address security and development challenges in the county.

Malimbo commended recent engagement meetings with stallholders, saying they had produced a positive report, including information that helped authorities identify one person allegedly involved in attacks along the Kaya-Yei road.

He said the county plans to hold another meeting bringing together stallholders and community leaders from across Yei River County to strengthen communication and create a safer environment for communities.

Malimbo urged partners to work together, saying joint efforts would help address some of the challenges facing the county.

He also called on humanitarian and development organisations to declare or communicate their assets and activities to relevant authorities before projects end, to avoid misunderstandings with security authorities.

The commissioner encouraged partners to plan and communicate their activities in advance and stressed the importance of cooperation between government institutions and other stakeholders.

He said development in Yei was a shared responsibility requiring the participation of government, partners and local communities.

The Press Unit of the Office of the Commissioner in Yei River County confirmed the meeting in a statement issued on Wednesday.