By: Jotham Alinaitwe
KAMPALA
Today, the Ministry for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in Office of the Prime Minister hosted the Zambian delegation which sought to learn from Uganda’s experience of hosting refugees.
The Ugandan Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Hon. Hilary Onek, along with his Deputy, Hon. Lillian Aber, welcomed the delegation led by the Commissioner for Refugees in Zambia, Prof. Prosper Ng’andu, and Chief Representative from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Yoichi Inoue.
Currently, Uganda is hosting about 1.6 million refugees, majority of whom are from South Sudan and the DRC.
Hon. Onek expressed gratitude to the Zambian delegation for choosing Uganda as a benchmarking site. He acknowledged the substantial efforts made by the Ugandan government to ensure that refugees feel welcomed and empowered.
“Uganda has committed to integrating refugees into our communities, providing education and livelihood skills at no cost to them,” he said, highlighting Uganda’s proactive stance towards refugee welfare.
The purpose of the meeting was to foster mutual learning and collaboration on refugee management strategies, inspired by Uganda’s legal framework on refugees.
Prof. Ng’andu commended Uganda’s progressive policies and legal provisions, which have facilitated the hosting and integration of refugees from neighbouring countries.
Both Uganda and Zambia have embraced the principles of the Global Compact for Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework which emphasises self-reliance and inclusive development.
“We are inspired by Uganda’s approach and legal framework for refugees,” Prof. Ng’andu remarked during the meeting, underscoring the importance of sharing best practices between the two countries.
JICA, which has been actively supporting both Uganda and Zambia in their refugee programs, reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing self-reliance among refugees and fostering comprehensive development alongside the host countries.
“JICA pledges its continued support to both Uganda and Zambia,” said Yoichi Inoue.
The two governments agreed to have a mutual commitment to further collaboration and exchange of experiences, aimed at improving the lives of refugees and host communities in both Uganda and Zambia.
