By Otim Nape
A public-spirited individual Gideon Tugume has dragged Refugee Affairs Minister Hillary Onek to court seeking public scrutiny in the way he has so far conducted his duties regarding the ongoing unauthorized registration of refugees by UNHCR. In his civil suit number 109 of 2018, filed on Friday 23rd March, Tugume argues that by failing to prevent UNHCR from hiding behind the disguised verification to register refugees (particularly children and new arrivals), Onek should be declared negligent and unfit to hold his office as Minister in the GoU.
There have been claims to the effect that UNHCR teams, currently out for the verification exercise aimed at establishing the exact number of refugees in Uganda, have been registering refugees and taking their photos and other personal details which, according to the refugee regulation of 2010, is the mandate of the GoU. Sued along with Onek are UNHCR Uganda Country head Bornwell Kantande and David Kazungu the interdicted OPM Commissioner for Refugees. In his plaint, Tugume avers that the trio’s negligence made refugees vulnerable to the extent of being kidnapped and forcefully repatriated back to Rwanda. This clearly violated the non-refoulment principle of international law which is to the effect that there can never be circumstances under which such repatriation can ever be justifiable. Kazungu is faulted for failing to regularly update the refugee register, a thing that compromised its integrity and led to inaccurate refugee data being in the possession of the GoU, UNHCR and other partners. The plaintiff is represented by M/S Barak Legal Associates. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
