Uganda

2012 UNHCR country operations profile - Uganda

Working environment

The context

Following the return to relative security in northern Uganda, more than 95 per cent of the approximately 1.8 million people who had been internally displaced in the country have returned home. This has allowed UNHCR to make plans to close its programme for internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the end of 2011, when it will hand over its protection responsibilities to the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

However, developments in the region could have an impact on Uganda's refugee situation and UNHCR's engagement. A newly independent South Sudan is establishing State structures; volatility continues in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); security and food crises in Somalia are still unfolding; and elections could change the political situation in neighbouring countries.

Uganda currently hosts more than 150,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from Burundi, the DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan. Of these, some 40,000 are urban refugees living mostly in Kampala. The majority of refugees, however, are spread across eight settlements in the north and south-west of the country.

The needs

A priority need is for the careful and coordinated management of protection issues arising from the declaration of cessation of status in 2012 for certain categories of Rwandan refugees. Other key areas include: accelerating registration and documentation to clear a backlog of 20,000 asylum-seekers; building Government capacity in status determination; and addressing all issues related to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Giving attention to health and nutrition is also of critical importance, as 51.2 per cent of children under five years of age and 26 per cent of women of reproductive age are anaemic. Recruitment and retention of health workers is a challenge.

Currently, people of concern in the south-west receive only 14 litres of water per person per day. Of almost 55,600 refugee children of school-age (six to 17 years), 45 per cent are not in school. Drop-out rates remain high, at 32 per cent for girls and 17 per cent for boys. Lack of funding and few opportunities for higher education discourage many from completing primary education, as do a dearth of teaching materials and high pupil-to-teacher ratios.

Post-repatriation rehabilitation and livelihood programmes in host communities need to be scaled up. With less than 1 per cent of the Rwandans having expressed a willingness to repatriate, the rest will continue to require protection and assistance in Uganda. The situation is the same for Congolese refugees. It is expected that around 4,000 South Sudanese will repatriate in 2012 should conditions be conducive and livelihood prospects improve in their new country.

Local-integration prospects for the older population of Congolese and Rwandans will be discussed with the Government of Uganda. There will be be a need for investment in staffing and facilities to boost resettlement processing to meet needs and targets.

Main objectives and targets for 2012

Fair protection processes and documentation

The quality of registration and profiling is improved or maintained.

• All people of concern are registered on an individual basis.

Security from violence and exploitation

The risk of sexual and gender-based violence and the quality of the response to it is improved.

• Some 80 per cent of known survivors of sexual violence receive support.

Basic needs and essential services

The health status of the population improves or remains stable.

• The under-five mortality rate is 1/1,000/month.

The supply of potable water is increased or maintained.

• An average of 18 litres of potable water per person per day is supplied.

The population of concern has optimal access to education.

• At least six out of every 10 children aged 6-12 are enrolled in primary education.
• 12 per cent of young people aged 12-17 are enrolled in secondary education.
• 16 per cent of youths aged 15-24 are enrolled in certified training courses.

Durable solutions

The potential for voluntary return is realized.

• Some 90 per cent of persons of concern who intend to return voluntarily to their areas of origin are assisted.
• All individuals allotted resettlement places depart for third countries.

Strategy and activities in 2012

The main focus of the operation is on assuring effective access to housing, health, water, sanitation, primary and post-primary education, as well as livelihood opportunities for urban- and rural-based refugees. Unaccompanied and separated children and women at risk will be identified and provided with protection. A related priority is to ensure systematic follow-up with the police and the courts on cases of SGBV. UNHCR will maintain a good working relation with the police and immigration officials and provide regular training in refugee law. Improvements to agricultural practices, vocational skills training and microcredit services will be central to the promotion of self-reliance. Community participation will make programming more effective in areas such as health and nutrition, SGBV, education and livelihoods.

To respond to refugees and asylum-seekers' information needs on voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement prospects, UNHCR will aim to seek and communicate up-to-date facts and answers. To support the achievement of durable solutions, UNHCR will facilitate voluntary repatriation for those willing to return home, and resettlement for those meeting the established criteria.

Constraints

Under Uganda's Constitution, only those who have held residence permits for a long period may be naturalized. UNHCR will advocate for this option, which would serve as a first step towards naturalization, to be available for an old (1950s) group of Congolese and Rwandans, as well as for the residual population of Sudanese refugees who are unwilling or unable to repatriate.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

The Government of Uganda, through the Office of the Prime Minister, provides land for housing and agriculture, and oversees physical security and law and order in the settlements, with the technical, financial and material support of UNHCR. National and international NGOs continue to manage multi-sectoral interventions under the leadership and coordination of UNHCR.

WFP provides food for new arrivals and those refugees who are unable to produce sufficient food themselves. Cooperation with other UN agencies is primarily in the areas of Common Services (security, health and administration), the UNDAF and the Millennium Development Goals. UNHCR is also part of several joint UN programmes and groups in Uganda.

Financial information

UNHCR's budget for Uganda rose steadily from 2006 to 2008 as needs grew in both refugee and IDP operations. As of 2009, the budget dropped, primarily because of a reduction in the size of the population of concern following voluntary repatriation to Sudan, and IDP returns to northern Uganda. From 2010 to 2011, the steady influx of refugees from the DRC and rise in needs led to a budget increase from USD 54.5 million (2010), to USD 81 million (2011). For 2012, given UNHCR will phase out of the IDP operation at the end of December 2011, and assuming the operational needs remain stable, projected requirements amount to USD 66 million.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013

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