Relentless clashes between Congo’s army and the M23 rebellion are emptying villages across the country’s troubled east. In recent months, tens of thousands of Congolese have made the perilous journey into neighbouring Uganda, adding fresh strain to a country already carrying one of Africa’s heaviest refugee burdens.

Since the start of the year, more than 63,000 people have entered Uganda, with the majority arriving through the Nyakabande transit centre in the west. The new arrivals include children who crossed the border without their families, women who say they endured sexual assault, and young men who fled attempts by armed groups to conscript them.

Uganda has long prided itself on offering refuge to those fleeing conflict. Yet the latest wave is stretching local capacity, testing aid agencies, and underscoring once again how Congo’s seemingly endless wars spill instability across borders.