Why Uganda's refugee policy good for African solidarity!

By Patrick Katagata

Uganda is the second largest Refugee hosting country globally, after Turkey! Some anomalies notwithstanding and except for self-seeking propagandists, the desperate plight of refugees should evoke in every sane mind due empathy and compassion. The quandary of being refugee is certainly dreadful. No person except under threat of imminent violent death or rape of women etc flees their native habitat for a strange destination. East or West, isn't home best?

Having had an opportunity to help in the resettlement of refugees, I can assure those who haven't been there that what the media relays is true but only a tip of an iceberg of a huge submerged refugee plight! I've immense sympathies for refugees and insuperable respect for the Government of Uganda, UNHCR, all other humanitarian Agencies and their workers who compassionately shoulder the daunting responsibility of serving refugees. Until one gets there, they can't quite understand that such work requires indisputable commitment. Commendably, I saw it in my leaders and colleagues!

Uganda's Open door refugee policy although criticized by some people, is commendable. Although, a few challenges still abound, Uganda hasn't run out of space to accommodate refugees yet. The Banyankore say: "Hafunda emitima. Tihafunda mibiri", literally to mean that if in our hearts open up to people seeking space then we can peacefully co-exist in the physical space! The prevalent violence in our sister countries, could possibly happen here and we could also run helplessly around in desperate search for refuge! It has happened before and countless Ugandans fled into exile, including some of the political critics.

The overwhelming refugee influx in Uganda is good for Africa because it reminds us of the distorted African solidarity. As Frantz Fanon once observed, "the most damaging effect of Colonialism was psychological." Colonialists drew divisive mental borders in the minds of Africans preceding physical boundaries before they destroyed African political systems. History suggests that political organization in pre-colonial Africa revolved around prominent Kingdoms and scattered communities. Although not completely homogeneous, communities were generally unified and with solidarity accentuated by Prof. John S. Mbiti's notion, "I am because we are, and since we are, therefore, I am." To borrow J.F Kennedy's words, [Africans understood that] "Geography made them neighbors; History made them friends; Economics made them partners; necessity made them allies and no man should put asunder those whom God joined together." Until Africa deletes colonial mental boundaries such consciousness is unattainable!

Uganda especially under President Museveni has also been acclaimed and castigated in the same measure for her pacification missions in Africa. Yet from late 1960s through 1980s especially Tanzania and Mozambique allied with Uganda's Freedom fighters to liberate the country of Idi Amin's despotic rule of terror and the successive military Juntas. On our part, in singing the second stanza of our National Anthem: "Oh Uganda, the land of freedom: our love and labor we give; and with neighbors all; at our country's call, in peace and friendship we'll live", aren't we required of the same?

Uganda hosting the solidarity summit presents us a great opportunity to continuously engage with regional and continental blocks like EAC, IGAD and African Union etc to compel leaders in affected countries to comply with democratic principles and ceasefire. Like Nyerere did to Amin or very recently African leaders to Gambia's long time autocrat Yahya Jammeh, forcing him relinquish power to Adama Barrow the rightful winner of the December election, African solidarity must be revived. But also policies and legal frameworks guarding against such excesses as land-grabbing under the guise of hosting refugees etc should be effectively implemented!

The writer is a co-founder and executive of the African Potential Forum