UNHCR welcomes release of verified refugee statistics by Government of Uganda

KAMPALA, 14 December 2016 (UNHCR) — The UN Refugee Agency has welcomed the statement by the Honourable Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Hilary Onek on the results of a verification exercise conducted by the Office of the Prime Minister Department for Refugees of the refugee population in Arua, Adjumani, Kiryandongo and Rwamwanja*.

Having accurate and up to date information is a vital component necessary for all those involved in the humanitarian response to be able to carry out their duties. By having an accurate understanding of refugee populations, we are better placed to be able to respond to their needs and provide them with life-saving assistance and key basic services.

UNHCR stands ready to support the Government with their plans to conduct further verification exercises across the remaining refugee-hosting areas in Uganda (the Kyaka II, Nakivale, Oruchinga and Kyangwali settlements, and Kampala) by April 2017, and to assist with the biometric registration of refugees who have arrived in Uganda since July 2016.

The verification exercise is the first led by the Government of Uganda using the Refugee Information Management System (RIMS), and comes four years after the previous exercise conducted by UNHCR in 2012. The results indicate an initial 10.7% decrease in the number of refugees in the country from 968,997 to 865,385.

*note the verification exercise was carried out prior to the onset of the latest outbreak of violence in South Sudan in July 2016.