Engola Unveils Kitgum Refugee Settlement Plan as IOM Pledges More Support

Kampala, Uganda | The Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees in the Office of the Prime Minister, Sam Engola, has pledged closer collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen refugee management and improve the country’s response to disasters and humanitarian crises.

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The commitment was made during a familiarisation meeting held at the minister’s office, where an IOM delegation paid a courtesy call to congratulate Engola upon his appointment.

During the meeting, the delegation, led by the IOM Uganda Chief of Mission, Sanusi Tejan Savage, briefed the minister on the organisation’s ongoing interventions in refugee management and humanitarian response across Uganda.

Savage reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to supporting the government in managing refugees and responding to emergencies, including floods, drought, landslides, and other climate-related disasters. He also highlighted the organisation’s interventions in addressing the ongoing famine in Karamoja and parts of Northern Uganda while emphasising the need to strengthen preparedness for the forecasted El Niño weather phenomenon.

The IOM team also presented the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC), a landmark regional framework signed in Kampala in July 2022. They noted that Uganda is preparing to hand over leadership of the declaration to Tanzania after successfully steering its implementation.

IOM pledged to continue providing technical support and rapid humanitarian response to the Government of Uganda. The organisation’s Head of Programmes, Sarah Carl, reiterated IOM’s interest in supporting efforts to combat famine in Karamoja and parts of Northern Uganda, as well as strengthening policy development and coordination mechanisms.

Engola urged the organisation to work closely with the government and other humanitarian partners, particularly in responding to the food insecurity affecting Karamoja and neighbouring areas. He said coordinated efforts were essential to complement the food relief programme being implemented under the directive of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for affected communities.

The minister also revealed that the government plans to establish a new refugee settlement in Kitgum District to ease congestion at the existing refugee settlement in neighbouring Lamwo District, a move aimed at improving refugee welfare and service delivery.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with development and humanitarian partners to enhance disaster preparedness, refugee protection, and timely humanitarian assistance across the country.