Onek defends relocation of refugees from Israel to Uganda

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The relocation of rejected African refugees from Israel to Uganda is a normal process, according to Hillary Onek, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.

Addressing the media in Kampala, Onek said the move by Uganda to receive 500 Eritrean and Sudanese refugees rejected by Israel is good, adding that “only 500 refugees is not such a significant problem”.

What started as a rumour, with back-and-forth denials, sprung to life last week when the government admitted that indeed they have agreed to receive just 500 refugees from Israel.

Uganda’s confirmation followed developments in Israel where advocates for the refugees argued that Israel had not secured any form of commitment from Uganda yet she wanted the refugees relocated.

Israel is rejecting over 40,000 African refugees, mainly from Eritrea and Sudan, and wants them relocated to other countries.

Initially reports talked of Uganda, Rwanda and Eritrea as the definite destinations, but Rwanda has still pulled out of the deal.

According to Onek, relocation of refugees is normal for countries hosting refugees, revealing that Uganda has been relocating refugees for some time, citing sensitive refugees from neighbouring countries who have been sent to third countries.

Onek revealed that to date Uganda has relocated over 1,000 refugees.

Asked what Uganda is getting in return, Onek said he doesn’t know if Israel is offering anything in return, revealing that the relocation deal is through the diplomatic channel.

Early this year, Onek, while addressing the media at the same venue, vehemently denied that Uganda is accepting the rejected refugees from Israel.

Then Onek said he was only aware of Rwanda’s acceptance of the refugees. He also revealed that he had heard that a number of Eritrean and Sudanese refugees ostensibly relocated from Israel to Rwanda were sneaking into Uganda.