Speaker Kadaga wants UN to review refugee agreements

PARLIAMENT|REFUGEES|UN

KAMPALA - The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has tasked the United Nations (UN) to look after refugees rather than leaving the burden to the host countries.

Kadaga said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to look after the wellbeing of the refugees.

She pointed out that though they are refugees, they should enjoy their fundamental rights without infringing on the hosts.

She made the remarks during the Inter-ministerial High level meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala recently.

The meeting was organized by African Women and Youth for Development with support from Oxfam.

"We need to renew the UN agreements made through our local governments to see that our marram roads connecting to the refugee camps like in Namule are compensated. Some of the refugees are enjoying more than the host country," she stated.

Kadaga said Ugandans have the culture of sharing right from upbringing when still young. 

However, she said this has grown out of proportion since the economic condition does no longer allow them anymore to share with friends and strangers.

She said that as Ugandans welcome the refugees to come to their country, they have been left with the burden of sharing scarce resources.

"I was concerned during my tour in West Nile to be told the indigenous people fetch water in evenings while the refugees get the water in the mornings this looked strange to me," Kadaga told participants. 

She pointed out that during the Solidarity Summit on Refugees held in Kampala in 2017, all the big shots were in Kampala including the International Communities, and a sum of US $2m was pledged but ended up with $650 only.

She noted that this was against 2% of the pledges by the European Union.

"The International Community should give back what is due to our country. Our roads have continued to be spoilt with very big vehicles carrying food for refugees on roads not designed for such vehicles," she said.

She stressed that during the Speakers meeting in South Africa last year she reminded the UN that they did not fulfill their pledge.