Thousands of Refugees Stranded at Uganda’s Border

The East African nation – a leader on the continent in terms of welcoming refugees, is known for its hospitality. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about 1,400,000 people have found refuge in the country.

The capital city Kampala appears to have put in place a mechanism for the rapid integration of refugees into Ugandan society and many of the newcomers eventually become full members of their host communities.

Those who cross the border at an early age are raised in Ugandan schools — promoting a healthy fusion of double culture and adequately preparing the young refugees to thrive in their new home.

Ganiko Jerry, a southern Sudanese refugee, shares his positive experience with the local educational system, “The education part I received from Uganda really helped me a lot.”

It is in the West Nile region, where most of the refugees live that all is not rosy at the camps.

Access to health care, drinking water and electricity is a problem. The COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded an already challenging situation.

For 75-year-old John Joh Kuir who arrived more than 20 years ago, settling into a dignified new life has not been a walk in the park. The main challenge for this head of the family is to provide for his beloved dependents.

The refugees say that the government ensures their security, but that this is not enough. They want enough arable land to cultivate in order to reduce their dependence on aid and establish truly independent, sustainable and more satisfactory lives for their families in Uganda.