The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Refugees and asylum seekers in Kampala have said that they struggle to access services due to language barrier.
Byuja Dieudonne Pacifique, a teacher from the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC says his colleagues seek him help when going to the hospital to help them interpret their health conditions to health workers.
Byuja who works for the English for Adult (EFA) organization says that he teaches refugee learners in Uganda so that they can acquire education and be able to speak and communicate in English when they need services.
The refugees were speaking on Thursday at a two-day medical clinic organized by the Refugee Law Project at Old Kampala Primary School.
Mary Kampogo, the head of the Mental Health and Psychosocial and wellbeing program at the Refugee Law Project said that they wanted to bring services closer to refugees and forced migrants who struggle to access legal and health services.
Claris Niyongira, 20, a refugee from Rwanda who had come to get treatment for a toothache said that she can’t afford treatment in the general hospitals because treatment is expensive and she does not have a job.
Amudu Jean Pierre, a refugee community leader said that several refugees have legal cases but they don’t know the implications. He said that the medical camp is an opportunity for refugees to interact with legal experts.
He however said that Refugee Law Project can’t provide a sustainable solution for the refugees but only empower them so that they can be able to sustain themselves.
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