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Uganda + 2 more

UNHCR Monthly Protection Update - Urban Protection Response (September 2019)

Attachments

Key Figures

72,23: Total number of persons of concern to UNHCR registered in urban areas
55,598: Are registered refugees
16,636: Are registered asylum seekers
66%: Women and children

Key highlights

  • UNHCR in conjunction with the Ministry of Internal Affairs organized and facilitated a round table discussion on statelessness from 11th -13th September in Entebbe. The meeting sought to validate the Uganda national action plan (NAP) on statelessness, develop a road map for the ratification of the 1961 convention on statelessness, promote the use and domestication of the UNHCR Global Action Plan to end statelessness, capacity building and raising awareness, advocate for the review and alignment of the citizenship law of Uganda with international and regional standards.
    As a result, the NAP on statelessness was drafted and a road map for the ratification of the 1961 convention was agreed upon. During the meeting, the Government of Uganda reiterated its commitment to accede to the 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness.

  • On 20th September 2019, UNHCR accompanied a delegation from the ECHO. The objective of the mission was to assess the Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) project implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and funded by ECHO. The Mission visited two centres in Kisenyi and Makindye where NRC conducts legal counselling, outreach and protection support for refugees and asylum seekers. Language barrier, limited feedback from service providers, support for education, livelihood and access to documentation among others were reported as major challenges affecting urban refugees. The need for improved information sharing with the community was noted. The ECHO mission also visited the OPM registration centre in Kampala where they observed registration activities and held focus group discussions with refugees.