It is true that time changes, but no one should really forget that armed conflict which tragically claimed the lives of more than 5 million people in DRC have all begun in the territory of Uvira before spreading to the rest the country. It is no coincidence that this territory is used as a launching site for armed conflict in Congo.

 

Without mentioning its people or exaggerating,  the territory of Uvira is not like any other territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The only city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, somewhat similar to Uvira is Kinshasa, the capital of the Great Congo, but it is not at all similar to Uvira. No doubt you are surprised to hear someone can compare the city of Kinshasa with a very small city of Uvira, but you quickly understand why this comparison has its reason. You will also understand that a game is like suicide when Kinshasa forget this strategic city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 

As you know, Kinshasa is located near one capital (Brazzaville), while Uvira is located near two capitals. Bujumbura, Burundi's capital Kigali and the Rwandan capital, are both located at a short distance from Uvira to the extent  that  one can easily work  dayly in both capitals, while living in Uvira. It is also interesting to note that in addition to being located on a very short distance from these two capitals, Uvira has access to Zambia and Tanzania through Lake Tanganyika and Uganda is at a distance of a few hours of driving. Although this does not explain anything, it brings some light on why people use Uvira as launching site for their rebellions in Congo.

 

Since the end of the Mobutu regime, it is becoming perfectly clear that one can not talk about Uvira without mentioning an important village near the town of Uvira. This village is Lemera. It is also the headquarters of the Collectivity Chieftaincy of Bafuliru. While the Congolese people remain divided on the question of whether the use of force to overthrow the dictatorial regime of President Mobutu was really justified because of hidden interests of those who were behind the plan, something they can all remember is that the war has begun in the territory of Uvira in the village "Lemera. At that time, for many, this was probably their first time to hear the name of Lemera.

 

Later, the name of Lemera became famous not because its known as the birthplace of the ADFL (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo) or sometimes (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo Zaire), but because of some hidden contracts that were signed at the Lemera Hospital between Laurent Kabila and his Rwandan sponsors at the launch of the war. As a reminder, the ADFL was the coalition that brought Kabila to power. It was composed, by the Party for People's Revolution (PRP) Led by Laurent Kabila, the (CNRD) National Council of Resistance for Democracy of Andre Kissasse Ngandu, the Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Zaire of Anselme Masasu Nindaga, and the Democratic Peoples' Alliance of Deogratias Bugera. One must also remember that the official ceremony to launch the ADFL launch was organized inside the Hospital of Lemera. This cost the lives of a great deal of people and the hospital was completely destroyed after being looted by the ADFL (rebels of the time). Although some of the people who represented their political parties during this celebration are no longer in power or in this life, it is still sad to note that the Hospital  of Lemera remains destroyed so far, despite the attempts of local use a few buildings remaining.

 

It is unfortunately noted that the Congolese government has not yet taken steps to rehabilitate the hospital. It raises questions of whether President Joseph Kabila does not remember that it is in this Lemera Hospital where his father had started AFDL using it as a launching site of the war that the led to power. How can he forget so quickly Uvira in general and the Hospital of Lemera in particular? But it will be recalled even rumors that the famous ship Kamanyola of Mobutu was renamed Lemera by Kabila, shortly after taking power. Although it is unclear at this time if the current President Kabila had also attended the launching ceremonies of the war's Hospital Lemera, it is quite logical to say that he came to power because of circumstances created in Lemera. For some political analysts, the violation by Kabila (father) of the said contracts signed in the hospital by his own hand was the real cause of the second war, which created the conditions for the mysterious circumstances of his assassination in 2001.

It's a good thing the Congolese reconstruction program called "5 chantiers" advocated by the President included the construction of hospitals. But it should be noted that the Rehabilitation of Lemera Hospital  is not even on the list. The need to reconstruct this hospital is not a development issue but a moral responsibility of the Congolese government. Before being used as a launching site of the war, Lemera was well known because of the same hospital, which was modern. It was built and supported financially by the Swedish Pentecostal Missionnairies.

 

It is true that there are many things destroyed everywhere during these multiple armed conflicts in Congo, but the willful negligence of  rebuilding a hospital they destoyed them selves  is something that nobody would imagined. Also the fact that the hospita of Lemera was the only hospital that has served nearly 50 villages at that time, would have warranted some type of emergency, if not a sense of moral obligation rehabilitate the hospital as soon as possible. There are just a lot of people in about 50 villages that desperately need this hospital, unfortunately, they have nowhere to go, but condomned to die quietly in their villages. The rehabilitation of this hospital is one of those little things that the Government can easily do to make a significant impact in this strategic territory of Uvira. This is because the hospital used to serve the needs of the entire territory of Uvira before its destruction. One can even say to forget the Hospital of Lemera is to forget the whole territory of Uvira.

 

Admittedly, because of the very important geostrategic position of Uvira, the risk of being used as a launching site to destabilize Congo are still there. However, the government can do something to prevent this from happening again in Uvira. It is high time for President Kabila to show he understands the threat that can easily be transformed into an opportunity for harm if it is mismanaged. Logically, Uvira, despite being a small territory, it can be affirmed that its geo-strategic importance far outweighs all other territories of the Congo. If it were not so, it would not have been used repeatedly as a launching site of rebellions in Congo.