By Our Reporters
Having been notified at a prior cabinet meeting, disaster preparedness & refugees affairs minister Hillary Onek last week was compelled to update cabinet about the refugee registration scandal the media has been reporting about in his ministry. Onek, who gratefully came prepared, elaborately updated Cabinet colleagues about the steps that the OPM has taken so far to ensure that the GoU is not innocently misunderstood and its reputation damaged. In his prolonged presentation, Onek touched on many things including confirming our last week news story that some WFP staff and agents had previously been implicated in the theft of refugee food items and fuel. “Colleagues, acting on information received from people on the ground and partners on 18th December 2017, I wrote to the Inspector General of Police bringing to his attention reports of misappropriation and theft of refugee relief items and fuel asking him to investigate reports,” Onek was quoted as reporting to Cabinet colleagues.
He also communicated his Ministry’s readiness to carry on the President’s vision to turn Uganda the most refugees-friendly country in the world by carrying on the job despite unsubstantiated graft accusations by the UN refugee agencies operating in Uganda. He revealed that the fact that currently 3,450 refugees daily enter Uganda (mostly from DRC reporting through Kisoro, Ntoroko, Hoima & Zombo districts) is proof of how deeply the refugee phenomenon has lately become a very big problem for contemporary Uganda. In his submission Onek, who had previously been enduring pressure from cabinet colleagues to explain himself, also revealed that today the refugee numbers in Uganda have grown to 1,411,794 up from the mere 433,595 refugees we had as of February 2015. One of our numerous sources in Cabinet used shorthand, took notes and got for us the highlights of Onek’s cabinet presentation which we hereby reproduce verbatim.
FULL STATEMENT:
CABINET INFORMATION PAPER CT (2018) ….
RECENT AND CURRENT MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE REFUGEE RESPONSE IN THE COUNTRY
(A Memorandum by the Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees)
Purpose:
To appraise Cabinet on the facts and inform you of the actions being taken to address this problem, bring the culprits to book and restore the confidence and trust of the public and partnersin the refugee response in the country.
Background
- Colleagues, you may be aware about the reports in the media and elsewhere in the past few weeks, about allegations of fraudulent activities and corruption in the refugee response in the country.
- Colleagues, the allegations of inflated refugee numbers, fraudulent distribution of food, bribery, interference in election of refugee leaders and trafficking of refugee girls, were brought to our attention, through both, our internal systems and by the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Rosa Malango, who even raised additional issues on 26th January 2018 in a memo to the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister
- Colleagues, acting on information received from people on the ground and Partners, on 18th December 2017, I wrote to the Inspector General of Police bringing to his attention reports of misappropriation and theft of refugee relief items and fuel and asking him to investigate the reports.
- Colleagues, when such allegations were brought to our attention, the Rt. Hon. prime Minister convened a meeting on 29th January 2018, attended by myself, Hon Musa Ecweru, the Permanent Secretary OPM, and the Country Representatives of UNHCR and WFP, to get additional facts and agree on practical and prompt actions to address the matter.
- On 30th January 2018, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister met the ambassadors of UK, US and head of EU delegation in Uganda who also expressed concerns about the alleged fraud and wanted to know the swift actions government was taking to address the concerns in order to restore the confidence of Development Partners and the public.
- On the same day, 30th January, 2018, a meeting, with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Filipo Grandi, who was visiting the country for other reasons was held and again, the fraud allegations in the refugee response were raised.
- Colleagues, at a joint press conference after the meeting with Mr. Grandi, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Rukana Rugunda told the media and the country that there was zero tolerance to corruption, and that the culprits would be brought to book. 9. Colleagues, following the above meetings, on 30th January 2018, I wrote to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister instructing her to interdict or cause four officers whose names had been named in various accusations to step aside while investigations into their conduct commences and to pave way for free investigations.
- Colleagues, the Permanent Secretary, informed me on 2nd February 2018 that the accused officers had been given 14 days to explain their roles regarding the various allegations, and that according to the Public Service Standing Orders, the 14 days would elapse on Wednesday 21st February 2018.
NATURE AND MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM
- Colleagues, the allegations raised by a whistleblower related to illegitimate access to food orchestrated by OPM officials, agency staff, welfare committee members and local business men; manipulation of food logs; refugees paying bribes to be registered, to access land, to leave the settlement, to cross the borders and to access employment; scholarships meant for refugees being provided to Ugandans; trafficking of minor girls and women; and harassment of UNHCR staff.
- Colleagues, the allegations were however, not substantiated and required investigations to establish the facts and to guide further action.
THE REFUGEE RESPONSE IN THE COUNTRY
- Colleagues, over the past three years, the Refugee Response in the Country has exponentially grown involving many players which has stretched the existing supervision and co-ordination capacity of the Government. For instance, the number of refugees has increased from 433,595 since February 2015 to 1,411,794 as of February 2018.
- Colleagues, as I speak now, a large influx of refugees continues to flow into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are receiving approximately 3450 refugees daily at our reception centres through Kisoro, Ntoroko, Hoima and Zombo districts. What this means is that the task of providing hope and support to refugees and host communities remains a huge challenge to the country.
- Colleagues, Uganda’s refugee policy is progressive and has received international recognition. Our resolve should not and must not wane. The allegations of corruption, however grave, should not divert us from the immense good work and support that the host communities, partners and a good number of our staff continue to provide to the refugees together with our partners.
- Colleagues, we trust that we will emerge out of this exercise stronger and with greater determination to support refugees and host communities.
- Colleagues, during the Solidarity Summit on Refugees held in June 2017, pledges from different Countries, Organizations and even individuals were raised and these were followed up by a joint Committee comprised of OPM, UNHCR, UN Resident Coordinator’s office, Ministry of Finance, among others. 523 million dollars was pledged and about 350 million dollars has so far been realized and efforts are ongoing to realize more and the remaining pledges. The OPM/GOU Account for receiving the Solidarity Summit funds has so far received $1.5m. This money has not yet been spent. This money will be used to support a Comprehensive Refugee Response providing water, health, food, shelter, education and other essentials needs for refugees and host communities. The rest of the money from the Summit has gone directly to our implementing partners and International NGOs.
- Colleagues, the refugee response is multi-stakeholder involving UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, IOM and over 100 international and local NGOs. The Ministry of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister plays a coordinating role in the response.
- Uganda has an international obligation to host refugees in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention, 1969 OAU convention which have been domesticated in the Refugee Act 2006 and Refugee Regulations 2010.
- In 2015, Government of Uganda became the first in the world to launch its own initiated and developed biometric Refugee Information Management System (RIMS) to register all asylum seekers and refugees in accordance with Regulations 40 – 50 of the Refugee Regulations, 2010.
- Colleagues, plans to enhance the Government system (RIMS) to capture iris and 10 finger prints have been concluded and discussions to obtain funding for the said cause have been ongoing within Government and UNHCR.
- Colleagues, food is distributed monthly and distribution rations depend on the food pipeline (food available) of the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN food agency. WFP contracts international and national NGOs to manage the food stores and distribution of food on its behalf. For example, Samaritans Purse has been implementing in South West of Uganda while World Vision implements in West Nile. Before the distribution takes place, OPM generates a food log list as per the registered refugees and asylum seekers in a given settlement from the data base/server. The food log list is handed over to WFP and UNHCR for verification and approval and thereafter WFP hands over the same to its Food implementing Partner(s) that do the actual food distribution to refugees and asylum seekers.
STEPS BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES
- Colleagues, working with our partners, we have decided to commence robust biometric re-enrollment and verification of all refugees in the country, using the biometric registration of UNHCR to plug any possible holes in the integrity of the register of the refugees and restore confidence in the refugee operations. The exercise will help to ascertain the actual numbers of refugees.
- Colleagues, investigations into the different elements of the whistle blower allegations of misuse of food and cash interventions meant for refugees, bribery and trafficking of girls have been initiated. Police CIID and the office of the IGG are handling the investigations. Our partners—UNHCR and WFP have also dispatched their investigators. They are already in the country.
- Colleagues, we are taking all necessary steps to ensure that the investigations are carried out independently and professionally. To this end, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against four officials who were accused of harassment and also who are responsible for supervising the refugee response.
- Colleagues, because of the multi-sectoral nature of implementing the refugee response, investigations are taking a multi-dimensional approach to track any possible collusion by officials from across the implementing agencies. I would like to assure colleagues that no stone will be left unturned. We have a zero tolerance to corruption and abuse of public funds. Whoever will be found to have been involved will be firmly dealt with, in accordance with the law.
- Colleagues, our Ministry and Office of the Prime Minister have nothing to hide in this matter. We operate openly and transparently. When allegations or reports of fraud and corruption come up, we face them squarely and deal with them decisively. That is our way of cleaning our house.
- Colleagues, on Thursday 15th February 2018, supported by my colleague, Hon Frank Tumwebaze, we addressed a press conference and gave facts and guidance to the media regarding the response and actions being undertaken to deal with the matter and debunk falsehoods that have been reported.
- Colleagues, a joint plan of action to address transparency and accountability has been drafted by the Taskforce of the Development Partners and the technical staff. It will be finalized in the course of the week and will define the actions, milestones and timeframes to address the concerns.
ACTIONS REQUIRED OF CABINET
- At the next convenient meeting of Cabinet, I shall request my colleagues to:
- Note that over the past two years, the Refugee Response in the Country has exponentially grown which has stretched the existing supervision and co-ordination capacity of the Government.
- Note that the refugee response is multi-stakeholder involving UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, IOM and over 100 international and local NGOs and that the Ministry of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister plays a coordinating role in the response.
- Note of the above facts so that you understand and appreciate the context amidst media coverage, some of which is misinformed and misrepresents the facts.
- Note the array of actions that Government is undertaking with the view to bringing the culprits to book and strengthening the refugee operations in the country.
