Sudanese refugees In Uganda allege corruption, lack of support

KAMPALA, Uganda, May 24 (Sudanile) - Sudanese refugees in Uganda have accused an international aid organization of corruption and a lack of transparency, raising concerns about their deteriorating living conditions and inadequate humanitarian assistance.

Sudan Media Forum

KAMPALA, Uganda, May 24 (Sudanile) - Sudanese refugees in Uganda have accused an international aid organization of corruption and a lack of transparency, raising concerns about their deteriorating living conditions and inadequate humanitarian assistance.

Dozens of refugees, mostly women, confronted representatives from Uganda's Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) at a town hall meeting in Kampala on Thursday. The meeting aimed to highlight their escalating problems and propose solutions to daily challenges.

This dialogue comes as Sudanese refugees in Uganda, particularly in Kampala, face a continuous deterioration of their humanitarian and living conditions. Their reality reflects not only the trauma of fleeing war but also a daily struggle with health, education, housing, and employment, amidst clear gaps in coordination and humanitarian response.

Multi-faceted suffering

The meeting revealed the increasing suffering endured by refugees, with interventions covering crises in housing, healthcare, education, employment, and violations of basic rights.



Sudanese lawyer Aisha Ahmed, based in Kampala, said refugees face "a series of violations without lawyers accompanying or defending them." She highlighted the rental crisis, noting: "Rents are very high, and so is the security deposit, which is often not returned to the tenant even if the house is returned in good condition. There are cases of eviction without warning." She urged that Sudanese refugees be exempted from some rental procedures or that lawyers be allowed to intervene immediately.

Ahmed also stated that refugees are subjected to beatings, robberies, and kidnappings, requiring urgent action from organizations and legal protection, especially given recurring violations, evictions, and police extortion. She suggested establishing a network of Sudanese lawyers to provide legal support.

Refugee women and mothers expressed deep concern about security and a lack of protection, particularly for children and women, amid incidents of disappearances of Sudanese individuals whose fates remain unknown. Others complained about difficulties accessing medical treatment due to language barriers, high medicine prices, and a lack of services for the elderly and those with chronic diseases. The issue of hospitals holding deceased bodies due to families' inability to pay costs was also raised, with no apparent response from relevant authorities.

In education, participants cited high tuition fees and a lack of support preventing many children from attending school, as families from conflict zones often lack stable incomes.

Refugee journalist Al-Tahir Ishaq spoke about landlords detaining identity documents of some women and girls, exposing them to serious violations. Approximately 80% of urban refugees are women and children, increasing their vulnerability. One refugee reported that at least 200 mothers and children with special needs lack services and struggle to obtain basic equipment like wheelchairs.

Refugee Naamat Yousef Mohamed expressed her terror: "A young Sudanese woman left five days ago and has not returned. We live in constant fear and find no serious investigation; we need real protection."

Organizations' responses

Representatives from UNHCR and aid organizations acknowledged the challenges but offered few immediate, radical solutions. They explained that support is primarily directed to refugees in settlements like Kiryandongo, and urban refugees do not receive the same level of services due to "the principle of needs assessment in geographical locations."

Education and Family Reunification (FCA): An FCA representative affirmed readiness to address educational aspirations, noting open applications for competitive scholarships in Europe and Canada, and support for Ugandan universities. He also mentioned assistance for family reunification with relatives in countries like Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

Health Interventions (AHA): An AHA representative stated they monitor patients in government hospitals, affirming "no government hospital has the right to detain bodies of the deceased due to non-payment," and that AHA intervenes upon notification. However, this protection does not cover private hospitals. He admitted a decline in support for dialysis centers due to U.S. policy changes but reassured that resettlement files for kidney failure patients "are under serious consideration."

UNHCR: A UNHCR representative clarified that urban refugee services differ from camp services based on need. For housing disputes, she noted lawyers were available. For crimes, she stressed Ugandan security agencies were responsible and urged refugees to integrate, learn the language, avoid late-night outings, carry documents, and not pay police. She denied recognizing any previous refugee representative body, confirming coordination with the OPM to organize elections for new representatives.

Resettlement and Tuition Fees (UNHCR and OPM): A UNHCR resettlement official confirmed "resettlement is currently unavailable" due to reduced U.S. support and warned against fraudulent rumors about Canada needing refugees. An OPM representative explained that the office issues letters for reduced tuition fees to some institutions "on an exclusive basis" to treat Sudanese refugees as Ugandan citizens regarding fees.

Allegations against "Give Directly"

Refugees notably accused the organization "Give Directly" of "backtracking on its promises" to provide $1,000 grants to every Sudanese refugee without geographical discrimination.

Lawyer and human rights activist Iman Saleh criticized the organization, alleging it "crossed all barriers and ignored the principles of justice and transparency," and demanded an official investigation. She stated the organization refused to explain why some were ineligible, merely responding: "You have no right to know." She added that Give Directly did not specify the geographical scope of beneficiaries when launching the project, which targeted about 4,000 refugees.

Refugee Amani Abdel Karim explained that Give Directly's initial statements confirmed targeting 4,000 registered refugees between December 2023 and June 2024. However, the reality differed: some Kampala residents received funds while Kiryandongo refugees received nothing, and others received only half the amount without explanation.



Abdel Karim also revealed suspicions of corruption, alleging that receiving the grant was tied to purchasing phones from the organization, with the phone's price deducted from the grant. Those refusing to buy were deprived of the amount.

In response to these testimonies, the OPM representative announced her intention to hold a broad meeting including Give Directly, UNHCR, and refugee representatives to verify allegations and hold the organization accountable, despite Give Directly's prior confirmation that its project targets only refugees within camps.

The hours-long session reflected the deep frustration among refugees, who viewed the situation as a clear breach of promises and humanitarian aid commitments.

 

This report, prepared by Sudanile, is published by the Sudan Media Forum and its member organizations to highlight the challenges facing the Sudanese refugees in Uganda.

   

المصدر: سودانايل