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Uganda’s open-door refugee policy may face revision if the international community does not step up support to address the country’s burgeoning refugee population, a senior minister cautioned. Eng Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, disclosed Uganda’s struggle to raise $800 million to $1.2 billion annually to sustain refugees, highlighting the potential necessity of reevaluating the policy to prevent overstretching.
Eng Onek emphasized the strain on Uganda, stressing the policy’s significant costs and the urgent need for international assistance. Without adequate support, he warned, Uganda might reconsider its open-door approach, urging other nations to fulfill their obligations towards refugees.
During a ceremony marking the donation of rice worth $2.2 million by Japan to the World Food Programme (WFP), Eng Onek reiterated the plea for aid to feed refugees, citing their dire circumstances. He highlighted the importance of meeting refugees’ basic needs to prevent resorting to criminal activities due to food scarcity.
Despite efforts by WFP to procure substantial amounts of maize grains and beans locally, food insecurity persists in various refugee settlements, according to Mr. Onek. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also faces challenges in securing adequate support for Uganda’s refugee population.
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Uganda currently hosts 1.6 million refugees, with up to 100,000 new arrivals daily, primarily from conflict-torn nations like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia. Despite Uganda’s progressive asylum policies, refugees often lack opportunities for self-sustainability, relying heavily on humanitarian aid.
Eng Onek expressed gratitude to Japan for consistent support to refugees and highlighted the ongoing efforts by WFP to provide assistance. Mr. Marcus Prior, WFP’s deputy Country Director in Uganda, outlined the organization’s monthly spending of $5 million on refugee welfare, emphasizing the need for continued support to address the $134 million required in 2024.
WFP prioritizes the most vulnerable refugees for food assistance, with varying levels of support based on need. Ambassador Fukazawa Hidemoto reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid, particularly targeting new refugees in transit centers during times of crisis and vulnerability.
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