BOISE ( ) — Tresor Uchama and Enock Keju sat patiently on white plastic chairs on Saturday as the sun beat down, waiting to take part in the final step of their nearly decade-long journey to becoming American citizens. Uchama had left the Democratic Republic of the Congo to avoid conflict and raised Keju in Uganda before they came to the United States as refugees. “My parents wanted a better life for their children,” Keju, 19, said in an interview.
“(And a) better opportunity for our future.” After seven years of waiting, Keju and Uchama raised their right hands alongside eight other refugees from Burundi, Thailand, Ukraine, Myanmar, Congo and the Central African Republic, and swore the oath of allegiance to become American citizens. The event was held during a World Refugee Day event at the Grove Plaza and Capital City Public Market, with the smell of hot food wafting around and cheers from hundreds of attendees.
Uchama said he was happy to be able to take part in the event. “I’m grateful,” Uchama said. “It’s been amazing.
” Those in attendance included both those who had recently arrived in Boise as refugees and those who had already gone through the citizenship process and wanted to show support. Neville Mutombo, who was born in a refugee camp in Zambia after his parents fled conflict in Congo, moved to Boise in February with three of his family members. Mutombo said life in Zambia was restricted and that he wasn’t always allowed to speak his native .
