Refugees of Uganda

Uganda Map

Uganda is the third top refugee-hosting nation in the world^[1] and proclaimed as one of the top countries with the most refugees^[2] with over a million refugees.^[3] The vast influx of refugees is due to a coalition of various factors in Uganda’s neighbouring countries: conflicts (War and Violence in DR Congo ^[4]), economic crisis, political instability and most substantially, the 'friendly' policies of the country that provide rights to the refugees: rights to education, work, private property, healthcare and other basic social services.^[5]

Demographics

Most of the refugees of Uganda are from its neighbouring countries; 1,053, 598 from South Sudan, 276,570 from DR Congo, 40,497 from Burundi, and with a relatively minimal 37,193 from Somalia and 37,015 from other countries (Ethiopia, Eritrea, etc.) ^[6]

Refugee Camps

Refugee Camps in South - Western Uganda

Uganda currently has 11 settlement camps:

1. Achol-Pii Settlement
2. Bidi Bidi Settlement
3. Impevi Settlement
4. Kampala Settlement
5. Kiryandongo Settlement
6. Kyaka II Settlement
7. Kyangwali Settlement
8. Nakivale Settlement
9. Pagirinya Settlement
10. Rhino Settlement
11. Rwamwanaja Settlement

Problems faced by Refugees

South Sudanese refugees being served food. Many of the complaint of hunger due to the food rationing by World Food Program.

Last year, Uganda took in more refugees than any other country in the world. One of the major problems faced by the refugees is that most of these stranded people are children. Some of the challenges faced by refugees include agricultural productivity, information dissemination and distribution of goods.^[7]

Problems caused by refugees

Ugandan for all its hospitality to refugees has struggled to handle this large inflow of them. These refugees come to the country needing doctors to build with some injury they sustained or a sickness they contracted when fleeing their country. This has placed a lot of pressure on health officials in the country. In Uganda, you have one doctor to every 24,000 citizens and a nurse per every 11,000.^[8] This has made it very difficult to care for these refugees. Initially, refugees used to be given some land to farm and take care of their families but because of the huge increase in the number of refugees, the country can not do it anymore making to difficult for refugees to feed themselves.^[9] The presence of these refugees has not only made it because to provide land but water and shelter as well.^[10] The struggle for food by refugees has not been solely due to their fault. Some officials working these camps use the funds meant for the refugees to line their pockets.^[11] This has led to the investigation of some of these officials.

References