Local leaders in Uganda’s West Nile region are complaining about the influx of refugees and how their presence was impacting negatively on the country’s limited resources.
This was revealed to Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Hillary Onek recently n Mungula Refugee Settlement, Adjumani District.
They highlighted the continued presence of the refugees they said had led to more substantial demands on natural resources.
Uganda continues to receive at least 4,000 refugees daily and is home to over 1.2 million refugees, with most coming from South Sudan.
Figures provided by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Adjumani District, in northern Uganda, indicate that the refugee influx has outnumbered the population of locals in the area.
2014 National Census figures indicate that Adjumani had a population of 210, 000.
The West Nile leaders’ pleas were joined by Gen Moses Ali, the First deputy Prime Minister, who faulted Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) saying it has not done much to restore lasting peace in South Sudan.
However, the South Sudan crisis still gets less attention and chronic levels of under funding. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says USD 781.8 million (2.7 trillion Shillings) is needed to address new needs of those who have been displaced due to renewed fighting, increased violence and food insecurity in South Sudan.
