COU, AACC and Partners Call For Solutions to Refugee Problems
The Church or Uganda through The Directorate of Household and Community Transformation (HCT) which is the social services and community development arm of the Church of Uganda, in partnership with All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) have visited Imvempi Refugee Settlement Camp in the Diocese of Madi in Arua to commemorate the World Refugee Day.
Several speakers from the COU team and AACC advocated for a world where refugees are always included, calling upon the refugees to be patient and hopeful despite the challenges they face.
The Church of Uganda teams consisted of Rev. Canon Captain William Ongeng (Provincial Secretary), Rev. Andrew Agaba (HCT Director), among other officials from HCT.
While, that from AACC included: Bishop Emily Awino Onyango from the Church of Kenya, Bishop Manasseh Gahima from the Church of Rwanda, among other priests and officials from AACC.
“Home Away From Home”, is the theme that guided the celebrations at Imvempi Sec. Sch. Playground.
In Uganda, an estimated 100 million people were unfortunately6 displaced from their homes and communities by the end of 2022 due to conflict, violence, natural and human-generated disasters among others.
On 20 June, Uganda joined WHO, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners in commemorating World Refugee Day.
Bishop Manasseh Gahima appreciated a number of supporters including the government and the COU for tirelessly offering help to refugees.
He encouraged the youth to depend on God even when things seem tough.
On the other hand, the Provincial Secretary COU, Rev. Canon Captain William Ongenge highlighted limited access to education, food, water, health services and protection concerns among others, as the challenges faced at the settlement. Hence, calling for collaboration to solve these problems.
Basing on incidences of suicide cases registered at the settlement, the Ass. Settlement Commander, Martin Koriang called upon the refugees to be hopeful as they wait on the help, condemning the vice by some of them at the settlement.
Some of the refugees gave their own accounts of circumstances at the settlement, including the free education being provided to the refugee children.
Imvempi Refugee Settlement Camp was opened in February 2017 to accommodate South Sudanese refugees after the Palorinya settlement in Moyo district.
