By JULIUS BARIGABA

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The United Nations refugee agency has appointed a new country representative in Uganda following a scandal on the numbers, relief and management of refugees early this year.

French national Joël Boutroue was appointed country representative in February, and the Kampala UNHCR office announced his arrival on April 5.

The scandal had involved Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister, where the ministry that co-ordinates refugee affairs in the country reports.

In January, United Nations Development Programme country representative Rosa Malango wrote to Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda querying the management of refugees in Uganda. She cited possible inflated numbers of asylum seekers, abuse of funds meant for refugees, and suspected trafficking of girls and women.  

Uganda hosts an estimated 1.4  million refugees from 10 countries around the region, with the highest numbers being from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Rwanda.

Mr Boutroue takes over from Bornwell Kantande who completed his assignment in Uganda at the end of March. He will take up the position of head of the UNHCR Regional Service Centre based in Nairobi.

Mr Boutroue has more than 30 years’ of experience in the United Nations system and more generally in the humanitarian and development world, having held a number of senior postings before his new position.

Given the magnitude of the refugee crises affecting Uganda, the success of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and the importance of Uganda’s asylum policy and integration of refugees into national and local development plans, UNHCR had announced its intention to deploy staff at more senior levels.

Mr Boutroue will lead UNHCR’s support to the government of Uganda and ensure timely and efficient assistance to refugees.