A report put forth by the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Parliament, advocating for a reassessment of Uganda’s refugee policy to manage their influx, has been turned down by the legislative body.
During Thursday’s plenary sitting, Dorcas Acen, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee, presented findings regarding the status of refugees and the communities hosting them in Uganda.
Acen highlighted concerns about the increasing numbers of refugees from neighboring nations, emphasizing their adverse impact on social services such as education and healthcare.
The committee proposed to Parliament that Uganda’s open-door policy, allowing refugees to freely enter the country, should undergo scrutiny to regulate their numbers. Additionally, it suggested that the government should collaborate with other countries and international organizations to relocate refugees to third countries.
A portion of the report stated, “The committee strongly recommends that the government revises its refugee policy to prevent potential long-term conflicts arising from an overflow of refugees and the underfunding resulting from cuts in budgetary support from donors.”
However, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa noted several deficiencies in the report, highlighting that the suggested policy review concerning refugees falls under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet.
Tayebwa expressed, “I do not want us to break news here that Parliament has stopped refugees. It is our obligation under international law to host refugees. We cannot stop asylum seekers fleeing from war from entering our country.”
He referred the report back to the committee, indicating a need for refinement before it is presented again on the parliamentary floor at a later date.
John Mulimba, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, argued that the recommendation to limit refugees’ entry into Uganda contradicts both national and international conventions on refugees, which Uganda has ratified.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, also the Head of Government Business in Parliament, highlighted the outcome of the Global Summit on Refugees held in December 2023, which aimed to address resource scarcity in districts hosting refugees in Uganda. She emphasized that curtailing refugee entry should not be justified based on this issue.
Nabbanja added, “During the global refugee forum in Geneva, in December 2023, Uganda was recognized globally for our refugee policy. In 1986, Uganda was a refugee exporter, with up to 500,000 refugees living in other countries around the world, and we are currently hosting 1.6 million refugees.”
Rose Obigah, the Terego District Woman Representative, shared that her constituency has experienced significant development, attributing it to the presence of refugees. She advocated for dignified treatment of refugees, acknowledging their challenges and urging their resolution.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, urged the government to collaborate with neighboring nations to support Uganda in assisting host communities, highlighting the inability of the country to shoulder the burden alone, especially when host communities are disadvantaged.
