Uganda’s progressive approach seeks to enable refugee and host communities to meet their immediate needs and manage future shocks.
The admission rate for refugees in Uganda is one of the highest in the world. Refugees enjoy legal, physical and social protection.
In Uganda, refugees use available public health services, have access to universal primary and lower secondary education, and engage in economic activity.
Uganda is unique in the region in not following a policy of refugee encampment. Most refugees reside in rural settlements alongside Ugandan citizens thanks to the Government’s non-encampment policy. Nearly 100,000 live as urban refugees in towns and cities.
Access to agricultural land brings huge benefits to refugees and provides the foundation for sustainable livelihoods for a significant number. Nevertheless, the size and quality of land currently available are unlikely to allow refugees to move much beyond subsistence farming.
There is economic interdependence among refugees, and between refugees and host communities. Traders from both communities deal in agricultural produce and manufactured goods. Refugee settlement areas have attracted Ugandan private enterprise, for example, SMS banking and transfer services.
There is a commendable level of peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities, confirmed by local leaders, refugee representatives, government officials at central and district level, UNHCR and implementing partners.
Refugees enjoy a symbiotic/mutually beneficial relationship with host communities thanks in large part to the non discriminatory policies of government which encourage people of different nationalities and ethnicities to live peacefully side by side .
Uganda’s progressive model of refugee protection and management cannot be sustained without robust international support.
Lauded as one of the most progressive in the world, Uganda’s refugee policy has many impressive aspects:
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Uganda’s refugee law grants (refugees) rights to documentation, the same social services as host population, freedom of movement, and to work, start businesses and own property.
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The Government is investing significant resources in the protection and management of refugees, including through: registration, documentation, security, law and order, primary and secondary schooling, public health facilities and roads.
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Government has set aside land (more is donated by the community) for refugees to settle and cultivate.
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Refugees are allowed freedom of residence, in rural settlements or in urban centres. The Government enacted a refugee legal and policy framework which allows refugees to stay in urban centres if they so wish. This framework is enshrined in the Refugee Act of 2016 and its 2010 Refugee Regulations, which facilitate the enjoyment of human rights by refugees in Uganda
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Uganda includes refugees in its national development plan, one of the policy actions called for in the New York Declaration. The National Development Plan II (NDP II, 2015/2016- 2019/2020) includes a refugee-specific strategy known as the Settlement Transformative Agenda (STA). Led by the OPM Refugee Department, the STA aims to foster sustainable livelihoods for refugees and host communities and to create an enabling environment for refugees to live in safety, dignity and in harmony with the host communities. The STA is supported by the Joint United Nations-World Bank Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (UN-WB ReHoPE) strategic framework that also is integrated into the UNDAF 2016-2020 in support of the NDP II.
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ReHoPE is a self-reliance and resilience strategic framework for refugee and host communities in Uganda. Through a multi-sectorial partnership, the Government, UN Agencies and the World Bank, supported by development partners, aim to enhance coordination of transitional programming from emergency towards development for refugee-hosting districts through socio-economic empowerment and reinforced integrated service delivery. This five year strategy will enhance the resilience of the refugee hosting districts and create space for enhanced socio-economic integration of refugees, including bridging the gap between phases in humanitarian and development intervention.
The call to action.
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Pledge and support Uganda to maintain its transformational refugee policies.
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Call on the international community to emulate and promote Uganda’s approach as a best
practice model.
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International community: fulfil the commitments contained in the New York Declaration and provide the required resources for Uganda to maintain and promote asylum space for refugees.
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Private sector, regional and financial institutions and other actors: support Uganda to enhance basic services and develop human capital in refugee-hosting districts through funding, new partnerships, investments and innovative initiatives.
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International community: commit to work in every way possible for the prevention of conflict, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the achievement of long-term political solutions and moreover resolve to support regional initiatives to address the root causes of the conflicts in order to create conditions that are conducive to large-scale voluntary return in safety and dignity.
Links to visit.
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