By Samson Ganiko

Obongi

Uganda Human rights commission with funding from European Union on Sept 20^th, 2023 carried out a community dialogue of refugees and host communities of Belameling village zone one block seven Palorinya refugee settlement Obongi district.

Uganda human rights commission is an institution that is mandated to promote and protect the human rights of all people in the country.
Due to gaps that have been identified in the refugee settlements, the institution has decided to carry out sensitisation and awareness with the purpose of the refugees to know their rights as there are human rights issues affecting both the refugees and the host communities.

Okurut Bosco the human rights officer Arua regional office said their aim is to reach out to all the five refugee hosting districts in West Nile. “Our target is to reach the hosting districts of Terego, Madi Okollo, Obongi, Koboko and Yumbe as we raise awareness for the refugees and the host on the dos and don’ts of this country,” Bosco noted.

Bosco further added that their aim is to bring the services closer to the refugees because they have realized that refugees need the services as there are so many human rights issues that are affecting both the refugees and the host communities. He added that when they reach the settlements, they target both the refugees and the host for peaceful co- existence. 
      
Meanwhile Gerry Evans a South Sudanese refugee based in belameling block seven appreciated the coming of the institution to the settlement as it makes them to know the laws of the country being south Sudanese refugees. “This is important for me to know so that I have to know what’s supposed to be done in Uganda here” Gerry said. He added that according to what he has learnt from the dialogue some of the rights cut across the rights in the both countries.   
  
Juru Nancy a student of Itula SS another South Sudanese refugee says she has learnt a lot that will help her. “Since I came here I have not attended any meeting so attending this really has made me so happy because they taught us what we have not heard before,” she stressed.

Whereas Loria Lilly the LC one chairperson of Keguru village disclosed that being a leader from the hosts, they have been emphasizing on peaceful co-existence among the refugees and the host. “We the leaders through Human Rights awareness we don’t segregate among ourselves because we are all human beings as being Ugandans or refugees, we are one people and we always share things together” the LC one chairperson noted.   

On her part, Mandera Juliet the OC Station of Belameling says being law enforcement officers, they have the right to apprehend those who fails to abide by the laws of this country. “If Human right says  you have the right for something but for us we say no for wrong doers because here you have seen if you have done wrong, we arrest you but you complain against your wrong doing” ASP Noted.

However Julius the assistant settlement commandant for zone one says their coming has an impact in the refugee settlement. “To me it’s an eye opener when I see human Rights commission entering the settlement because most of my people are the persons of concern who are the refugees, they think they have some rights that are restricted for them” commandant noted

COVER PHOTO: Photo of refugees during the dialogue in zone one, block seven Belameling Village, Palorinya settlement, Obongi district By Samson Ganiko