UGANDA REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN KENYA LOCK HORNS WITH WORLD REFUGGEE AGENCY- UNHCR.

BY Patrick Donald Oucha

In Kenya, East Africa.

The descriptively frustrated Uganda refugee community in Kenya has finally tabled to the UNHCR, series of demands not limited to resettlement in third country of choice.

A document dated 05 September 2013, addressed to the head of sub-office UNHCR and copied to the country representative UNHCR-Kenya states in part;

"Following the registration with UNHCR as asylum seekers in 1993, and the subsequent refugee status determination (RSD) process, we have analyzed that the function number two of UNHCR (durable solutions) shall never be realized even in the next forty years. We have no future for our people"

THE THICK DOCUMENT FURTHER STATES;

"The condition in the camp leaves a lot to be desired . Ugandans have been marginalized in nearly all aspects of life. They have been denied access to resettlement for decades. We appeal to other communities for urgent support”

ON EMPLOYMENT, THE DOCUMENT REVEALS;

"Under the incentive mode of employment , our people have not only been exploited professionally ,but have also lost all they had invested in education. what goes on in the camp gives clear picture of modern slavery , imprisonment, and general abuse of basic human rights”

THE DOCUMENT IN PART OFFERS FREE ADVICE TO UNHCR.

“UNHCR, function number one provides for international protection and number two strives to achieve durable solutions. With harsh climatic conditions here, the function number two is not applicable . let UNHCR engage consultants to explain more “

ON SELF RELIANCE, THE DOCUMENT STATES;

it's not realistic to expect someone who has been living on WFP food hand outs for twenty years to suddenly become self reliant under the same conditions and /or situations”.

THE DOCUMENT NOTES;

“The design of UNHCR camp has a lot to reveal about modern form of slavery, imprisonment or authored restrictions with known outcomes, not limited to rampant loss of human lives and dignity”

ON EDUCATION ,THE DOCUMENT SAYS;

“It cost Government(s) million of shillings to educate a lawyer or a doctor over the years. We feel the shame that the UN is frustrating professionals in various camps. They are denied opportunities to practice what they have learnt”

AS A RECAP THE DOCUMENT STATES; 

“In the premise, your office is hereby informed that we are not ready to go back to UGANDA or live in KENYA”

IN APPRECIATION, A PARAGRAPH STATES; 

“The government of Kenya has offered enough support that if only we had proper management under the UNHCR, we should have left Kenya since”

ON TOURIST ATTRACTION, THE DOCUMENT STATES;

“it's a pity that over the years the camp has turned into tourist attraction Zoo. Some of our children have not moved a radius of 10 kilometers since they were born 20 years ago, something that has propelled pains , tears and endless frustration”

The said document was also copied to an unnamed advocate in the Republic of KENYA.   

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