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FEATURE ・ ・ South Sudan Refugees and Displaced People : UGANDA West Nile Sub-Region Kampala ganda is a country in East Africa with a population of approximately 40 million. Blessed with bountiful nature, the country was once called “a pearl of Africa” by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. To- Uday, a massive number of refugees are fleeing into Uganda from its neighbor- ing countries, especially from South Sudan. In response, Japan has launched Uganda Helping Brothers and Sisters a unique series of initiatives to help Uganda deal with the refugees. of Neighboring Countries INFLUX OF SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEES: In response to this situation, the United Nations OVER 2000 PEOPLE ARRIVE IN UGANDA EVERY DAY High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Once I drive through the heavy traffic jams of other international aid organizations are boosting Kampala, the Ugandan capital, and make it out of emergency humanitarian aid activities in the refu- the city, a land of natural beauty opens up before gee settlements. The government of Uganda pro- me: the gigantic Lake Victoria, the Nile River flow- vides a plot of land to refugees, while humanitarian ing out from the lake, and the vast prairies stretch- organizations assist refugees with basic needs such ing for miles. People on the street wave at me, a as shelter and food as well as access to safe drink- foreigner, with laid-back smiles on their faces. ing water and basic healthcare services. Yet, the Uganda is said to be the most generous coun- soaring number of arriving refugees pauses great try for refugees. In fact, the country has received a challenges for everyone. great number of refugees since World War II from Bidibidi Settlement is located in Yumbe District, neighboring countries such as Sudan, the Demo- West Nile Sub-Region, in the northwestern part of cratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda. Approximately 270,000 South Sudanese and South Sudan. Uganda itself has experienced a refugees—far above the initially estimated figure civil war, which caused many of its citizens to flee of 50,000—live in the settlement, which opened in to neighboring countries as refugees in the past. In August of 2016. Although there are white tents put 2006, it enacted a law to grant rights to refugees to up here and there, most refugees have built houses move freely and to work. Ugandan people say that in Bidibidi. It is difficult to distinguish this settle- they broadly support this idea–it is just normal to ment from any other Ugandan village nearby. help one another, they say, “Because we are broth- Life in Bidibidi is not easy and refugees seem to ers and sisters.” face many challenges. Lasu Justin, who worked at a Now, Uganda is facing a surge of refugees from healthcare center in South Sudan and had fled from South Sudan, which is shaking the entire nation. In South Sudan to Uganda in the past, became a refu- 2011, South Sudan achieved independence, earning gee once again because of the current conflict. Lasu a nickname as “the youngest nation in the world.” says, “In South Sudan, our lives, the lives of the peo- However, in 2013, civil war broke out between ple in Equatoria, were threatened. Life here in the forces supporting the President and forces loyal to settlement is safe, but food is becoming scarce, and the former Vice President. Following a resurgence there isn’t enough well water for all of us.” Merry of violence in July of 2016, the conflict spread into Awate, who used to work at an NGO in South Sudan, Equatoria, a region bordering with Uganda. As a re- says, “I don’t know when I can go back home. I need sult, many people from South Sudan fled to north- to find a job to support myself in Uganda.” ern Uganda. By early August of 2017, the number of South Sudanese refugees residing in Uganda exceeded a BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS million. Even now, over 2,000 South Sudanese flee TO SUPPORT REFUGEE HOSTING COMMUNITIES Boroli Settlement in into Uganda every day. Many are believed to be People in West Nile Sub-Region, where the ma- Adjumani District. Tents staying in Uganda without registering as refugees, jority of South Sudanese refugees living in Uganda and houses stand side by seeking help from relatives living in Uganda. are being hosted, faced various challenges in access- side in the settlement. ALL PHOTOS ON PAGES TAKESHI 4-7: KUNO Children of South Sudanese refugees in Boroli Settlement, Left: Lasu (center) is a South Sudanese Adjumani District of refugee who lives in Bidibidi Settlement. West Nile Sub-Region. Right: In Bidibidi Settlement, there are many expectant women and nursing mothers. 4 JICA'S WORLD OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 JICA'S WORLD 5 ・ FEATURE ・ Refugees and Displaced People : UGANDA deal of hope on this project. Odur Benard, an offi- cial in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of the development of northern Uganda, says, “Even if we receive funding from aid organizations, it can be wasted if the government fails to carry out projects in a systematic way. With this project, we aim to strengthen local governments’ capacity for develop- Kubo asks Aruda ment and generate synergy with other development District administrators projects in every field.” about the progress After district officials in Acholi Sub-Region made with the formulated a community-based development plan, dissemination of JICA began funding 28 pilot projects emanat- plannning tools. ing from this plan. These pilot projects are drawn through collaborative efforts of district develop- ing services and basic infrastructure even before ment officials and community members in the dis- the influx of refugees. With the arrival of refugees, trict. the region now needs not only humanitarian aid but Last March, for instance, residents in a village also development support for host communities, in chosen for a pilot project used funds provided by order for them to continue assisting refugees. JICA to purchase six cows for traditional cow plow- Here is one example. While many refugees live ing. Isa Imazato, a JICA expert supporting this pilot in settlements where humanitarian aid is limited, project, says, “In the past, even when community more and more refugees now reside in local com- residents asked district officials to purchase cows, Lalia (left), an munities in Uganda. This puts strain on the social they did not really have a specific plan for how they agricultural official, infrastructure in the communities, such as schools would use the cows. So in this project, we ask them Waran (second from and hospitals. Dalili Moses, Deputy Chief Admin- to make a detailed plan, like what’s the size of the left), and refugees in istrative Officer of Adjumani District, where about land you would like to cultivate using the cows, how the settlement. 50% of the population is comprised of South Suda- and when you are going to train them, and how you nese refugees, says, “There aren’t enough schools. are going to keep them healthy, things like that.” lot projects that meet the needs of diverse groups. ” to his fellow refugees in the settlement. Classrooms are jam-packed, with more than 100 Such pilot projects to implement community- Waran had lived in Uganda for 27 years as a children in just one room.” based planning are also envisioned in West Nile refugee, from age 7 until he returned to his home However, it is difficult for the government of Sub-Region. Kubo, the JICA expert, says, “Com- DISSEMINATION OF RICE CULTIVATION HELPS country in 2013. But the conflict recurred im- Uganda to deal with all of the requests from such pared with Acholi Sub-Region, I believe that West IMPROVE REFUGEE LIVELIHOODS mediately after his return, forcing him to go back communities. Kaggwa Andrew, who works at the Nile Sub-Region is culturally and ethnically more Because of its moderate climate among other to Uganda once again. “I had to pay a big sum of Yusuke Kubo, a JICA development expert, is Ministry of Local Government, says, “There are so diverse. Some villages have practiced cattle plowing reasons, Uganda has been self-sufficient for basic money to rent a plot of land from a Ugandan land- interviewed by a local many requests from those local communities and while others have not. The number of arriving refu- crops. However, the sudden increase in the number lord. But my farm was also once badly damaged by radio station. we are way too underbudgeted. We need to priori- gees also varies depending on the location. While of refugees from South Sudan is straining food sup- cows from another village. That was terrible,” says tize these requests and select development projects ensuring that no one is left behind and that refu- ply in West Nile Sub-Region. Waran, recalling the past with a bitter expression that are most effective.” gees are included in local planning, district officials To alleviate the strain, JICA is conducting ag- on his face. That is why JICA has been targeting capacity and community members have to carefully select pi- ricultural programs to improve food production. Then he took me to the hut where he keeps his building of local governments in West Nile Sub- In 2011, it started a rice cultivation project, and produce. There, 700 kilograms of rice were piled up Region. JICA has carried out a similar project in the in 2014, UNHCR joined in as a partner. The proj- in bags: harvest yielded from the 1 kilogram of rice neighboring Acholi Sub-Region as part of the recon- ect promotes dissemination of an upland rice strain seed provided by JICA two years ago.

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