By JOHNSON KANAMUGIRE

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Rwanda students studying in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are bearing the brunt of travel restrictions following a diplomatic standoff and Ebola fears respectively.

A section of the affected students have already dropped out of learning institutions after failing to secure transfers to local schools and colleges.

Most were attracted to the neighbouring countries’ schools, colleges and universities for reasons ranging from affordable tuition fees, unique academic courses and scholarship opportunities.

Those in Uganda were barred from crossing in March last year when two governments’ diplomatic relations worsened, while students schooling in the French-speaking DR Congo cities such as Goma and Bukavu were blocked in September following the Ebola outbreak in the area.

However, Rwandan authorities have since advised the affected students to enroll in local schools and universities.

Months later, however, many students are still finding it difficult to secure admissions in local schools and colleges because courses different curriculum and high costs.

“I was on a francophone scholarship that is not transferable. I kept hoping that the border restrictions will once come to an end but I don’t see any sign even after Ebola appears to have been put under control,” said a second year medical student with Goma-based Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs who preferred not to be named.

“Even fellows who were finalising are yet to be allowed to graduate or collect their degrees. The last time I attempted to cross the border, immigration officials warned me that I risk getting my travel documents confiscated,”the student added.

Transfers to local colleges and schools are still impossible because students pursuing medical courses, which in Rwanda are only offered in universities, are taught in English and are relatively expensive, while for other courses students are compelled to repeat a year or start afresh.

A third-year Rwandan student at Universite de Goma said over 60 per cent of colleagues who joined the campus and the neighbouring Institut Technique Medicale have not resumed classes due to travel restrictions.

He recalled how he was able to pursue studies after he made it back to Goma through a porous border and since decided not to return. A former senior four student at St Mary's College Rushoroza in Uganda, has now been forced to enroll into senior three at Groupe Scolaire Runaba in Northern Burera District after she crossed back home and was denied to re-entry into Uganda.

“I was studying on a scholarship I was offered on my sustained excellent performance, but I since lost that chance,” she said, adding that she was struggling to cope with the learning system in Rwanda.

Her father Bonaventure Maniraho told Rwanda Today he is experiencing difficulties in raising more than Rwf85,000 as school fees in addition to other costs previously covered under her daughter’s scholarship.

Mr Maniraho considers himself unlucky as other parents whose children had not crossed back home by the time the travel restrictions were imposed mid last year managed to find relatives and friends to host them and pursue studies uninterrupted.

In many instances, he said, it is even possible to facilitate the children get the Ugandan documents when the host families exploit the adoption provisions.

“That way they are able to travel back as Ugandans whenever they choose to come home. That is how some parents here managed to keep their children in Kyambogo University and Kampala University,” he said.

Efforts by Rwanda Today to seek government response proved futile as authorities declined to respond to questions.