Uganda sees influx of over 400 refugees daily in 2024
Apr 12, 2024
UNHRC data indicates that as of March 31, 2024, the total number of refugees in the country is about 1,611,732, while asylum seekers are 48,792.
According to experts, the influx in 2024 puts additional pressure on housing, healthcare, and education systems. (File photo)
Nelson Mandela Muhoozi
Journalist @New Vision
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Uganda is experiencing a significant surge in refugees in 2024, with an average of 414 people seeking asylum daily.
This comes amidst ongoing regional conflicts and political instability, placing a strain on the country's already stretched resources.
Uganda has a long history of welcoming refugees, currently hosting over 1,611,732 million people fleeing violence and persecution in neighboring countries according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHRC).
UNHRC data indicates that as of March 31, 2024, the total number of refugees in the country is about 1,611,732, while asylum-seekers 48,792.
Since the start of 2024, more than 44,700 individuals (including more than 7,400 new births) have been registered in Uganda, 30% of whom are new arrivals from Sudan, 18% from South Sudan, 16% from Eritrea, and 13% from the DR Congo.
By tabulation of refugees and asylum seekers by country of origin, South Sudan takes the lions share at 56.3% with 935,260, and the Democratic Republic of Congo at 31.0% with 515,482.
From January to March, excluding new births, a total of 37,300 refugees entered Uganda. This means that every month, Uganda received 12,433 refugees. Further, this means that every day, Uganda received about 414 refugees.
According to experts, the influx in 2024 puts additional pressure on housing, healthcare, and education systems.
However, they said the Ugandan government, along with international aid organisations, are working to meet the needs of the new arrivals.
Although challenges remain in providing adequate shelter, food, and sanitation facilities for the ever-growing refugee population, Moses Odokonyero from IRC (International Rescue Committee), said refugees have economic potential that can be harnessed to promote their self-reliance through addressing policy, legal and practice barriers that hinder their right to work.
“And some positive steps are being registered in that direction. For instance, the 2024 Employer of the Year Awards organised by the Federation of Uganda Employers with the support of partners like the International Rescue Committee had a new category recognizing employers of urban refugees with decent work practices,” Odokonyero said.
Odokonyero, who is also a senior programme manager, refugees in East Africa: Boosting Urban Innovations for Livelihoods Development (Re:Build), International Rescue Committee Uganda, said Rebuild is working toward improving the lives of over 107,763 refugees and vulnerable hosts in Kampala.
Last year, only about 5.6 % of approximately 107,763 refugees in the Kampala district had an occupation permit, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
UNCHR Deputy Representative in Uganda, Bridgette Eno, recently said: “Instead of begging on the streets, refugees can instead be innovative and be enterprising”.
“You can do various crafts and earn some income. And it is important that you leverage IT and available education training to get skills for survival," Eno said.
According to Odokonyero, refugees need specific training in many areas including tailoring, field crop and vegetable growing, and business services to be able to become self-supportive.
According to Flavia Amoding, Platform for Vendors in Uganda (PLAVU) chairperson, a refugee-focused organisation, refugees are vulnerable, yet they have to feed and take care of themselves and their families.
She added that more needs to be done on social protection, skilling, and social cohesion to be able to incorporate them into a socially enterprising community.
However, she said refugees should be able to collaborate, be able to work easily with the host communities. Our aim is to ensure that these people intermingle well within the communities so that they can be able to trade their goods and services with ease because refugees are able to do lots of beautiful items that add to the economy’s value,” she added.
Uganda’s refugee market
In 2021, a report from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) indicated that Uganda’s refugee market was valued at shillings 1.7 trillion.
The report showed that refugee-hosting areas in the West Nile and Southwest region spend over $485 million (over shillings 1.7 trillion) per year to purchase consumer goods.
The West Nile region accounted for $246m (about shillings 885 billion), representing 51%. This is largely driven by the host community's spending, at $201m (shillings 723 billion).
On the other hand, the Southwest region contributes $239m (49%) to the total. This, according to Odokonyero, means that refuges have a potential that can be harnessed for social and economic opportunities.
More support needed
During a recently celebrated World Refugee Day, the assistant commissioner for refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister, Charles Bafaki, called upon stakeholders in the refugee cause to support the country, saying it takes a lot of effort and resources to maintain an open-door policy for refugees.
“There is a challenge of resources. However, what we can assure refugees is that no one will be hungry,” Bafaki said.
Bafaki rallied the refugees and partners to work with the Government warning that there are refugees who are posing as brokers to extort money from their colleagues.
Bafaki reiterated that refugees should exploit their talents and skills as an opportunity has been given to them to participate in the economic activities of the country.
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