A Critical Analysis on the Rights of Refugees in East Africa

ABSTRACT

The situation of refugees is among the most pressing and urgent problems that the African continent is battling with now, this is as a result of conflicts in the continent especially in the region of East Africa and the neighboring countries like South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Burundi among others. East Africa is currently comprised of five countries which include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Bmundi. The legal instruments that provide security and protection of refugee rights among other things include the refugee act of 2006, international and regional human rights instruments, and the Organization of African Union Convention on the status of refugees among other instruments. At a regional level, the East African Community takes into account the special and unique circumstances embodied in the movement of refugees across the region. According to a report from the East African Newspaper published on 16'11 November 2018, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania hosts more than two million refugees from south Susan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Burundi and Eritrea. The bulk of this population which is about 1.47million people is in Uganda despite its economy and land size being smaller than Kenya and Tanzania. The study seeks to examine the effectiveness of the laws governing the rights of refugees in East Africa. The main objective of this research is to analyze the application of laws as regards the rights of refugees in East Africa, critically examine the temporary assistance available to asylum seekers and refugees, provide a basis of future research in the area of refugee rights in East Africa and investigate how effective the laws relating to refugee rights are. The research aims at improving the relation between refugees and the communities where they settle. According to a report released in October 2018 titled Free and Safe Migration in East Africa, Congolese and south Sudanese refugees are housed in the settlements and urban areas in the host country alongside local communities. The methodology is doctrinal, with information gathered from books written by legal scholars, journals, law repmis and repmis from refugee agencies as well as internet source.

TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .............................................................................................................................. i 

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ ii 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................................................... .iii 

LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................. iv 

LIST OF STATUTES ..................................................................................................................... v 

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. viii 

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................ ! 

1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... ! 

1.1 Background to the study ............................................................................................................ I 

1.2 Statement of the problem .......................................................................................................... 4 

1.3 Objectives of study .................................................................................................................... 4 

1.4 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 5 

1.5 Research questions .................................................................................................................... 5 

1.6 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 5 

1.7 Literature review ....................................................................................................................... 5 

1.8 Chapterisation .......................................................................................................................... l4 

1.9 Definition of key terms ............................................................................................................ l5 

CHAPER TWO ........................................................................................................................... 18 

LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS LEGISLATION ................................. 18 

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 18 

2.2 Refugee act 2006 of Uganda ................................................................................................... 18 

2.3 Rights to identity papers and travel documents ....................................................................... 28 

2.3.2 Right to the same treatment as nationals .............................................................................. 32 

2.3.3 Right to receive favourable treatment .................................................................................. 36 

2.3.4 Rights to receive the same treatment as aliens ..................................................................... 38 

vi 

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 47 

REVIEW OF INSTITUTIONAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN REFUGEE PROTECTION . ....................................................................................................................................................... 47 

3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 47 

3.2 National organisations dealing with refugees ...................................................................... .47 

3.3 International institutions dealing with refugees .................................................................... 50 

3.4 Challenges of institutions dealing with refugees ..................................................................... 55 

3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 60 

CHAPTERFOUR ....................................................................................................................... 61 

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 61 

4.2 Sources of refugees ................................................................................................................. 62 

4.3 Challenges of refugees ............................................................................................................ 64 

4.4 Future of refugee management ................................................................................................ 71 

4.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 72 

CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................................................... 74 

5.1 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 74 

5.2 Findings ................................................................................................................................... 74 

5 3 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 75 

5.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 77 

Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 78