OPERATIONAL UPDATE Uganda 1 – 31 December, 2019 During the month of December 2019, 3,585 Refugees from the DRC cited inter-ethnic Burundians indicate several reasons for new refugee arrivals from Democratic violence in Ituri as well as fighting and attacks leaving their country including, insecurity, Republic of Congo (2,249), South Sudan on civilians in North Kivu as reasons for family reunification, reported violence and (968) and Burundi (368) sought safety in fleeing. Those from South Sudan reported fear of forcible conscription by militia Uganda, bringing the number of new arrivals insecurity, food insecurity and lack of access groups. since 1 January 2019 to 94,725. The to basic services such as education and humanitarian situation remains unpredictable health as the main causes of flight. in South Sudan and the DRC. 3,585 UNHCR’S FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS 2019: Number of new arrivals during December 2019, based on border USD 386.2 M monitoring. UNHCR Funding (as of 31 December 2019) 116 Daily average of new arrivals during December 2019, based on border monitoring. 1,381,122 Total refugees and asylum-seekers in Uganda as of 31 December 2019. Unfunded 60% - 230 M Funded 40% - 156 M POPULATIONS OF CONCERN Refugees and Asylum-Seekers by Nationality South 861,590 Sudan DR Congo 397,638 Burundi 45,671 Others 76,223 Two-year-old South Sudanese refugee Maria Areye, is HIV negative but, was born to HIV positive parents at Imvepi refugee TOTAL 1,381,122 settlement in Uganda. www.unhcr.org 1 OPERATIONAL UPDATE > UGANDA / 01 – 31 December 2019 Rufas Taban, 49, is a South Sudanese refugee in Uganda, living with his wife and three children in Imvepi refugee settlement. Photo ©UNHCR/Duniya Aslam Khan Operational Context The humanitarian situation in South Sudan and the DRC remained unpredictable during the reporting period. Most of the new Congolese refugees arrived from Ituri province across Lake Albert and were transferred to Kyangwali settlement. Those arriving at the transit centres and collection points through Nyakabande and Matanda came from Rutshuru, Goma, Uvira, Masisi, Biriza, Bukoma, and Buanza; those passing through Ntoroko mainly came from Ituri and North Kivu, Tchoma, Kasenyi, Boga, Beni, and Nyamamba. All were settled in Kyaka II. Asylum-seekers from South Sudan continued to arrive through Lamwo district (Ngomoromo, Awenolwi, Madi Opei, Waligo Entry points), Adjumani (Elegu Collection Point) and Koboko district (Kuluba Collection Point, Oraba, Busia border point and Ocea TC). Operational Highlights Following heavy rains and devastating floods and landslides in the Western, Northern and Eastern regions Uganda, UNHCR dispatched relief items to affected families in Bundibugyo district, including 2,000 blankets, 2,000 sleeping mats, 150 cartons laundry soap, 50 rolls of plastic tarpaulins, 5,000 plastic buckets and 1,000 pick axes. UNHCR also provided temporary shelter at Bukukwanga Transit Center for 390 flood-affected people. According to Government sources, at least 300,000 had been affected by floods and landslides and an estimated 65,000 people were displaced. The national commemoration of the World AIDs Day celebrations was held on 01 December 2019, in Kayunga District, Uganda. The celebrations were held globally under the theme, “Communities Make the Difference” while at national level the theme was, “Engaging Young People to Champion the End of New HIV Infections”. This was in recognition of the role of the community and young people in providing leadership and advocacy in the response but, also aware that young people (15-24 years) contribute 34 percent of the new HIV infections annually. The chief guest at the national celebrations was the Vice President, Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, who represented the President of the Republic of Uganda. The celebrations were preceded by a public memorial lecture in honor of Philly Bongoley Lutaaya, which was held on 29 November 2019, at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. In the Uganda operation, UNHCR and partners joined respective district commemoration activities including: participating in HIV awareness sensitization; conducting HIV testing; linking persons to care and treatment; and show casing the available services within the settlement facilities. A story on refugees in Uganda living with HIV/AIDS: https://www.unhcr.org/afr/news/stories/2019/11/5de0fcb64/hiv-positive-refugees-support-one-another-in- uganda.html www.unhcr.org 2 OPERATIONAL UPDATE > UGANDA / 01 – 31 December 2019 GLOBAL COMPACT ON REFUGEES Uganda joined the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 16-18 December 2019, to discuss ways to improve the response of the international community to refugee situations. Hon. Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness & Refugees, led the government delegation from Uganda. The delegation participated in several high-level engagements, and made six pledges, to galvanize support for refugee and host communities in Uganda. The pledges made by Uganda were: maintaining the open-door policy; inclusion of refugees in national planning and statistical systems; implementation of the Education Response Plan (ERP); the Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan (HSIRRP); Water and Environment Response Plan; and ensuring the integrity of the asylum system. Refugees residing in Uganda were also invited to the GRF and spoke on high-level panels, presenting a set of pledges on behalf of refugees in Uganda. These were centred around: livelihoods; education; and environmental conservation. The Forum was attended by 3,000 participants from 150 countries representing governments, international organizations, civil society, private sector, parliamentarians, urban councils, academia, sports organizations and refugees. The Forum resulted in more than 770 pledges and 5.5 billion USD in commitments, which demonstrated support to refugees worldwide, their hosting countries, global responsibility and burden- sharing. PROTECTION Achievements and Impact Coordination/IDPs: Following the appeal by the Government of Uganda to the United Nations systems seeking a response to floods and disasters in the Rwenzori, Elgon, Teso, Bukedi, Lango and West-Nile regions, UNHCR together with sister UN agencies applied for Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to respond to the current situation. Two activities under protection were identified and these are: coordination and establishment of community-based protection mechanisms; and protection monitoring within the planned IDP response. These aim to identify trends, map services and advocate for life-saving assistance. So far, only UNHCR had provided core relief items to the affected persons. Registration: An Application Programming Interface (API) link was established between Biometric Information Management System (BIMS) and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) platform, to allow testing of the authentication function prior to SIM card registration. Refugee Eligibility Committee (REC): While in Rwamwanja refugee settlement, the REC adjudicated 636 asylum applications of 1,478 individuals, largely DRC nationals, accounting for approximately 83 percent of applicants that were granted refugee status. In Nakivale refugee settlement, they adjudicated 843 asylum applications of 2,557 individuals, largely concerning nationals from DRC and Burundi. Approximately 96 percent of applicants in Nakivale refugee settlement were granted refugee status. Peaceful co-existence: A dialogue between host and refugee communities was held in Nyumanzi refugee settlement. This followed a violent conflict between them, triggered by an incident where a Ugandan man was found dead in the vicinity of the settlement. The violence resulted in four people (two refugees and two Ugandans) losing their lives. The host community members who had been displaced as a result of the conflict returned to their villages. Ugandan government authorities, UNHCR and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), continue to monitor the situation. They are in regular communication with representatives of the refugee community and local leaders, to advocate for peaceful coexistence between the refugees and their hosts, as security measures remain reinforced. Identified Needs and Remaining Gaps The new upgrade version 2 of the Inter-agency Feedback, Referral and Resolution Mechanism (FRRM) system, www.unhcr.org 3 OPERATIONAL UPDATE > UGANDA / 01 – 31 December 2019 although with better usage features, has faced a number of challenges such as: limited understanding among focal points on how to use the new system (logging in, accessing and responding to referrals sent to them); majority of focal points not responding to their referrals within stipulated timeframes; a number of referrals logged in previous version of the FRRM system not accessible in the new system, which affected response rate from focal points and; periodic downtimes experienced with the FRRM portal. However, these issues are being addressed and the FRRM is expected to operate more efficiently in 2020. EDUCATION Achievements and Impact DAFI: UNHCR Uganda received 50 additional DAFI scholarships, bringing the 2019 allocation to 100. Interviews for the Kampala slots were held in December 2019 by a selection committee consisting of a representative from the German Embassy, Office of Prime Minister, two Refugee Leaders, InterAid Uganda (UNHCR urban partner), Windle International Uganda and UNHCR. UNHCR is the chair of the interview and selection processes in all settlements. The successful students will