KAMPALA, Uganda
The Ugandan government has presented a set of demands to
the international community, including funding agencies, in response to the
increasing burden of hosting refugees. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (rear centre) speaks to Congolese refugee and entrepreneur Mahoro Florence at her home in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
Uganda currently hosts around 1.7 million refugees, straining the
country’s resources as donor funding declines.
Mr
Hillary Onek, the minister of Relief, Disaster Management, and Refugees, said
Uganda is shouldering more of the refugee burden than it should, and that the
country has resorted to taking loans to finance refugee efforts.
He
emphasised that the refugee crisis is a global issue and should not rest solely
on host countries.
“The
World Bank wants to give half of the funds as a soft loan and the other half as
a grant. However, we are saying borrowing for refugees should not be Uganda’s
responsibility. I urge the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to press the World
Bank to ensure that all funds under the refugee window come as grants,” Mr Onek
said on Tuesday.
He added that where grants are not possible, the loan portion should
be smaller than the grant to ease Uganda’s debt burden due to its role in
hosting refugees.
“We
are waiting for the second phase of the Development Response to Displacement
Impact Project (DRDIP), and our request to the World Bank is to provide a 100
percent grant. If that’s not possible, then at least 80 percent should be a
grant and 20 percent a loan,” he said.
Mr
Onek also called for support in mitigating environmental impacts, such as
deforestation, caused by long-term land use by refugees.
Mr
Onek also emphasised the need for the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) and other partners to work together to provide durable
solutions, including voluntary repatriations.
“We all know what’s happening in the DR Congo. So, the hope for a
return is very slim. Although refugees have been returning to Burundi and South
Sudan, they often come back to Uganda because the socio-economic conditions in
their home countries are not conducive for reintegration,” he said.
He
stressed that the increasing number of refugees requires immediate action to
address the root causes of displacement and support durable solutions.
“The
situation in neighbouring countries may worsen, leading to a higher influx of
refugees if tangible solutions are not found,” Mr Onek warned.
He
called for sustainable support for Uganda, acknowledging its progressive
refugee policies of inclusion.
“The
burden is becoming unbearable. Donors must commit to fulfilling their pledges,
as hosting countries like Uganda are already doing their part. We should not be
reduced to beggars for fulfilling our international responsibilities,” he said.
Representing Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, the Third Deputy Prime
Minister, Ms Rukia Isanga Nakadama, noted that Uganda is home to 1.74 million
refugees, the largest refugee population in Africa.
She
attributed the worsening situation to wars, climate change, and other factors
forcing people into exile.
“There
are 13 refugee settlements in Uganda, like Rwamwanja, each with significant
populations. As refugee numbers grow, land becomes increasingly scarce,” she
said.
Ms
Nakadama emphasised the need for enhanced collaboration with UNHCR to advance
voluntary and dignified returns for refugees, while securing multi-year
funding.
“This
is a prolonged crisis where individuals remain in Uganda for years. We need
comprehensive strategies that empower refugees to become self-sustaining,” she
said.
Mr
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, praised Uganda’s
progressive refugee policy, which allows refugees to cultivate land and engage
in income-generating activities.
“Uganda has made a remarkable impact on how the world should respond
to refugee crises. Your approach has paved the way for the global community to
adopt similar policies,” Mr Grandi said.
He
acknowledged the significant role Uganda plays, noting that the country
receives an average of 10,000 refugees per month.
“Hosting
1.7 million refugees with a population of 46 million is a considerable
sacrifice, and it must not go unrecognised. My organisation’s role is to help
you secure the resources needed to continue this important work, which you are
doing on behalf of the world, as it is a collective responsibility,” he said.
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