Refugees and asylum seekers experienced unhindered access into Uganda with no case of refoulement recorded. 63,683 Congolese new arrivals that entered Uganda through various border points were granted prima facie status in 2013.
Refugee status determination: The Refugee Eligibility Committee (REC) was instituted towards the end of 2013 for specific categories of asylum-seekers coming to Kisoro. Over 1,000 asylum seekers in Kisoro underwent individual refugee status determination (RSD) and 732 of these were granted refugee status. Meanwhile, about 55 per cent of the 10,683 individuals who underwent individual refugee status determination in Kyaka II, Nakivale and Oruchinga were granted status by the REC.
Training: UNHCR, through its Branch Office in Kampala, provided training on refugee law and international protection to over 120 District and Local Authority Officials including judicial officers, immigration officers, police officers, border officials and local leaders.
Registration and documentation: Registration of asylum-seekers and refugees is carried-out jointly by UNHCR and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Registration, documentation and RSD activities have been handed over to the OPM in Nakivale and partially in Kyaka II. 100 per cent of refugees above 16 years of age in Oruchinga and about 45 per cent of Nakivale received individual identification documents after the general verification exercise.
Voluntary Repatriation: Voluntary repatriation activities for Rwandan and Burundian refugees were pursued. Both countries sent teams to the Uganda refugee settlements to talk to those refugees wishing to return. Two cross-border meetings (Rwanda and Burundi) were conducted. A total of 364 Rwandans were assisted to return in safety and dignity.
In Kyangwali, Significant efforts were directed towards (1) providing basic needs and essential relief services, (2) providing a favourable protection environment, and (3) conducting registration and documentation. Over 5,500 newly arrived refugees who had settled on their plots of land had to be relocated from contested villages with host communities hitherto allocated by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to other villages. Service delivery was overwhelmed in the refugee hosting districts of Hoima and Kamwenge.