John Bosco Kyaligonza, the Refugee Desk Officer for Lamwo District revealed that they are currently transporting the refugees to other refugee settlements in Arua and Adjumani where there are still available spaces.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Munir Safieldin, the UNICEF Representative to Uganda said the project will benefit selected 20,000 children in refugee settlements in four districts in Northern Uganda.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Hillary Onek Obaloker however says the country isn’t receiving the resources that match the progressive model yet its hosting the highest numbers of refugees.
Emmanuel Turyagenda, the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement Commandant however told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the recent verification exercise shows the population had dropped to 65,722 refugees.
The funding channeled under the Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART) project will see four students offered a fully paid Master's scholarship program for two years in Norway.
Moses Nyang, the Refugee Welfare Council three (RWC3) for Adjumani Refugee Settlements says many refugees especially those in Nyumanzi refugee settlement have rejected the idea to have rice instead of maize grains.
Rhoda Akec, another refugee says most food prices within Kiryandongo Refugee settlement have doubled or tripled recently leaving most vulnerable members unable to afford them.
Some of the refugees say since 2013 and 2016 when they arrived at the settlement, the land allocated to them has been gradually reduced, leaving them with no space for farming.
The settlement initially opened in 2017 sits on a 50 square miles’ piece of land donated by host communities in Palabek Ogilli and parts of Palabek Gem Sub-counties. Although it was initially meant to accommodate 40,000 refugees and asylum seekers, its capacity was increased to 60,000 after the Office of the Prime Minister-OPM acquired more land.
The development comes as Palabek Refugee Settlement in Lamwo District is running out of space to accommodate the surging population of refugees fleeing unrest from neighboring South Sudan.
John Komakech Ogwok, the district LC 5 Chairperson reveals that there are several humanitarian agencies who have decided to conceal their budgets, activity plans and are not open to have their operations monitored.
