Govt to borrow USD 280m for refugee host districts

By Olivia Nabaggala

03^rd Nov 2023

Government is considering, borrowing USD 280 million from the world bank to support refugee host districts.

This has been disclosed by the minister in charge of refugees and disaster preparedness Hilary Onek while appearing before the parliamentary committee on presidential affairs where he informed MPs that the country is hosting over 1.5 million refugees from 33 countries and decried the low funding.

MPs further tasked Onek to explain how the country benefits in hosting these refugees given the funding challenges.

Onek in response informed mps that the host districts have been able to get development in terms of infrastructure like schools and says they are better off than those without refugees.

Onek says that there are still in negotiation with the world bank to advance the money as a grant, but world bank still insists that part of it should be a loan.

In 2021 parliament approved a loan of 560 billion shillings equivalent to 150 million dollars to build infrastructure in refugee hosting communities.

Onek has also informed mps that refugees in the country are allowed to engage in any business of their choice as long as it is legal.

However Makindye east mp Derrick NYEKO AND Adjumani district woman mp Jessica Ababiku complained about urban refugees and asked the minister to find a solution to the matter.

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