MPs query Uganda's open door refugee policy

KAMPALA-A section of lawmakers sitting on the presidential affairs committee has questioned Uganda's much-vaunted open-door refugee policy amidst declining donor funding.

Under the open-door refugee policy, Uganda accepts refugees from any part of the world. And once an individual is granted refugee status, he is free to move, work or start a business instead of wasting away in a refugee camp.

Earlier today, MPs Ibrahim Kasozi, Dan Muheirwe, and Ivan Mutebi tasked the minister of state in charge of refugees and disaster preparedness to allay fears that the country is not taking on more than it can chew in terms of the burgeoning refugee population.

The state minister for relief, disaster preparedness, and refugees, Musa Ecweru was appearing before the committee to answer allegations by MP Daniel Muheirwe (Buhaguzi County) that he was partly responsible for the alleged ongoing attempts to expand the boundaries of Kyangwali refugee camp.

"Donors are slowly pulling out of refugee programs in Uganda but the number of refugees is increasing. Is this trend really sustainable?" Mutebi asked.

In particular, Mutebi cited the 2017 solidarity summit in Uganda which was meant to rise close to $2b but ended up raising less than $100m.

However, Ecweru told lawmakers that Government is not about to reconsider its open-door policy which has seen Uganda overtake Lebanon as the second-largest host of refugees globally at an estimated 1.5m.

The issue of refugees stretching facilities of host communities has for long proved to be an emotive issue.

In particular, claims by MPs that Government is prepared to expand boundaries of Kyangwali refugee camp from 36 square miles to 77 square miles has repeatedly spawned emotive debates in Parliament.

Last year, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga stopped the alleged expansion of Kyangwali refugee camp after area MP, Muheirwe claimed that 28 villages stood to be evicted.

Late last month, Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda told Parliament that refugee host communities are set to receive an estimated sh555b in development aid.

Uganda has refugee settlements in districts of Kiryandongo, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Moyo, and Kikube.