The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has trained refugees and host communities in the Rhino camp and Palorinya refugee settlement in West Nile region.

Through its West Nile Regional Office, the training focused on increasing awareness of human rights and how to identify human rights violations and to enhance awareness of the importance of participation of vulnerable groups in traditional justice institutions.

During the training, the UHRC team received reports of rampant cases of gender-based violence and violence against women and girls.

Uganda Human Right officials together with host and refugees in Palorinya Refuggee settlement Obongi district/ Photo by Johnpaul Opio

Bosco Okurut the Acting West Nile regional human rights officer West Nile said most refugees are ignorant of Uganda’s law. The majority of new arrivals, he added have been cited in incidents of domestic violence, early child and forced marriages, child labor, teenage pregnancies, high school dropouts, and child neglect.

On behalf of the office of the prime minister, Julius Muwereza the assistant settlement commandant for zone one in Polorinya Refugee settlement says their coming has an impact on the refugee settlement.

“It is extremely important to observe human rights which is essential for maintaining the confidence and trust of community members, I believe most of the refugees in this country are ignorant of Ugandan law, however, this training will help them build trust in Ugandan law,” Pier said.

Refugee women attending UHRC training at Belameling village, Palorinya refugee settlement /Photo by Johnpaul Opio

Whereas Loria Lilly the LC1 chairperson of Keguru village Obongi district says that in different engagements, leaders emphasize peaceful co-existence among the refugees and the host. “We the leaders through human rights awareness don’t segregate among ourselves because we are all human beings as being Ugandans or refugees, we are one people and we always share things together” the LC1 chairperson noted.  

On her part, Mandera Juliet the OC Station of Belameling says being law enforcement officers, they have the right to apprehend those who fail to abide by the laws of this country. “If human right says you have the right to something but for us we say no for wrongdoers because here you have seen if you have done wrong, we arrest you but you complain against your wrong doing,” she said.