MUGABE R
Refugees at Nyakabande Transit Center in Kisoro District were filled with excitement on Monday, 14th April 2025, as they received an assortment of clothes donated by Boona FM under its annual Easter Charity Drive.
The donation, part of Boona FM’s efforts to mark the Lent season with compassion, targeted the large population of Congolese refugees currently residing at the transit center.
Boona FM Chief News Editor and head of the Easter Charity Drive, Bob Niwamanya Rumanzi, praised the public for their generosity in contributing to the initiative. He explained that Nyakabande Transit Center was chosen due to the overwhelming number of displaced Congolese nationals seeking temporary shelter.
One of the beneficiaries, Nuru Nivano Abdara, expressed gratitude in Kinyarwanda, thanking Boona FM for their kindness and appealing for more support to help meet the needs of the vulnerable community.
Bahati Ziaridwa, another refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, described the donated clothing as a source of relief for a hopeless community, bringing much-needed comfort to the recipients.
Meanwhile, Jim Obua, a representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted the issue of congestion at the center, revealing that the population has surged from the intended capacity of 1,500 to over 5,000. He noted that many refugees have only a single set of clothes and lack proper changing options.
Representing the Office of the Prime Minister’s Refugees Department, Kisaamo Daniel commended Boona FM’s gesture, saying it serves as a motivation to the refugees and shows solidarity with those in dire need.
Boona FM’s Easter Charity Drive is an annual initiative to mobilize support for vulnerable groups across the region. This year’s focus on the Nyakabande Transit Center highlights the station’s ongoing commitment to restoring hope among displaced populations.
