Burundi Refugees’ Influx: A Threat or a Blessing to Uganda’s Social Service Delivery.

Abstract

Back Ground: Social Service delivery to refugees is part of the human rights promotion interventions and in Uganda, it is enshrined1 in the Refugees Act 2006 and Refugees Regulations 2010, which are part of the global refugee protection instruments2 that enable them enjoy their full rights as nationals in the country of asylum. Wars across the Great Lakes Region continue to be the main triggers of refugees in Uganda3 as there is instability in their home countries. There has been incessant influx of Burundian Refugee population in Uganda due to its relative stability. During colonial times, refugees were usually welcomed and well treated in exile and returned willingly at the end of conflict. However, conflicts in Africa and the refugee inflow have become more complex. At the same time, pressures on host nations and communities have increased due to the huge numbers of refugee population making refugees much less welcome in exile. Due to fear of straining the few available resources, refugees are given chance to return to their home countries at free will when peace prevails, this is all at the expense of UNHCR and other agencies. This research aims to find out whether the Burundian refugees Influx is a threat or a blessing to Uganda’s social services delivery by looking at what social services have been offered to Burundian refugees by government of Uganda and the implementing partners, analyzing how the Burundian refugee influx has affected Uganda’s Social services delivery, analyzing the challenges that Uganda is facing in providing social services in Nakivale refugees settlement, and to explore the measures put in place to solve the challenges faced by Uganda in providing social services delivery.