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Gov't concerned over influx of Pakistani asylum seekers

Pakistani nationals during the launch of their Association in Lira town on Tuesday

Pakistani nationals during the launch of their Association in Lira town on Tuesday

Government has raised a red flag over an unprecedented number refugee applications from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.  

A total of 280 Pakistani nationals have submitted applications for refugee status in the recent past. However, the minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hillary Onek is suspicious that they could only be coming in as 'fortune seekers' instead of refugees running away from their country.    

Onek made the statements on the sidelines of the regional conference on jobs, livelihoods and self-reliance of refugees, returnees and host communities. The conference organized under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.  

According to Onek, several of the IGAD member states have become intolerant to refugees, forcing many of them to find a safe haven in Uganda. IGAD member states include Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Djibouti.  

Onek says that although the government has approved some refugees, the over 280 Pakistani who are living in Kampala and other parts of the country cannot be accepted for now as refugees, adding that the issue needs to be handled with care since Uganda does not have a common border with Pakistan.  

He wondered what prompted the Pakistani nationals left the other countries in between Uganda and Pakistan to opt to settle in Uganda as refugees.  

Onek hinted on the hundreds of people from Asian countries who have come into Uganda disguising as investors and end up exploiting opportunities at the expense of Ugandans. He says whereas some nationals come in to actually escape violence and persecution, others are hunting for wealth.

There are at least 311 Pakistani refugees in Uganda today. Pakistan, a country of 197 million people has seen its development impeded by terror and economic stagnation and fraught relations between its neighbours; India and Afghanistan.

Onek also says with terrorism that is now a global threat, Uganda needs to be vigilant while admitting refugees. Uganda hosts 1.2 m refugees. Among these are refugees from Turkey, Syria, Yemen, Kenya, Sudan, and Eritrea among others.

Comments

-1 #21 Akot 2019-03-26 15:11
Quoting Adam Andama:
When an enemy wants to destroy you from inside out, they use any means available.

M7 has been fighting al shabab in Somalia, the ADF in DRC etc. These types have a score to settle, so they send in sleeper cells to Uganda under the guise of seeking asylum. few years or months later ugandans will realize the bitter reality on the streets of Kampala.


Thanks.

Ugandans MUST UNITE & throw Museveni out before it's too late, especially as with the tribalistic system, no outsider will ever help our people!
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0 #22 Akot 2019-03-26 15:16
Quoting Zaitun:
Ugandans with this authoritative Museveni, will soon find themselves under Islamist rule, and that will provide a fertile ground for the incarnation of Idi Amin.

We have been too kind to foreigners since colonial days to the point that Ugandans have been taken in ransom by the so-called refugees.

Who is after these people's lives in their own country?

How could they not be able to get that status in other Arab countries or countries that border them?

Have our so-called soft-hearted leaders not signed a deal behind the backs of Ugandans? Never forget that it was a small Pakistani who was working with IMF who convived with Museveni to sell out our Economic apparutus, including Banks.

If our so-called leaders accept to give these people refugee status, then be assured that the mass has already been said.


Thanks!

UNITY now!
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+1 #23 rubangakene 2019-03-26 18:58
Get rid of them immediately to deter others, that's what!

You see their compatriots who are already in Uganda encourage them to use this ruse to get a foothold in our economy. soon they will be shopkeepers, employing and calling us "boy". NEVER AGAIN!!
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+1 #24 Akao 2019-03-26 19:45
Most people seek refugee in Uganda so that they can get to developed world.

Uganda with its lax law and a bribery is the order of the day, its easier to get travel documents than most real countries in East Africa.
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