OPM battles refugee multiple registration

PIC: Uganda is among the leading refugee-hosting nations in the world

IMMIGRATION

By Robert Ariaka

The office of the prime minister in Arua is trying to sort out the problem of double registration of refugees in the West Nile sub-region.

John Jal Dek, a refugee welfare officer at Rhino-camp, says some refugees register twice to get food and other services.

He observed that the number of refugees keeps growing because of double registration.

Solomon Osakan, the refugee desk officer OPM Arua, says the issue of double registration was encountered and this forced them to start verifying the refugees with immunization cards and finger prints.

He says officers at registration points now use biometric machines to track double registration of refugees.

Currently, the refugees are facing a food crisis because of the increasing influx of others from neighbouring South Sudan.

West Nile is currently hosting more than half a million refugees from South Sudan.