A few days after it was revealed that officials in the office of the Prime Minister were reportedly inflating refugee numbers in order to benefit from the refugee crisis.
A spot check was ordered, and when the more than 26,000 refugees, who were purportedly receiving provisions were asked to physically turn up and collect their share, only about 7,000 showed up, suggesting that about 19,000 were “ghosts” whose monies and other resources had been pocketed by some individuals in OPM.
the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda initiated the probe after reports received by UNHCR and the World Food Programme alleged corruption and grave misconduct by officials involved in refugee assistance.
The allegations include faking documents on delivery of food assistance as well as demanding refugees pay bribes to access various services that should be free of cost
The UN has welcomed this commitment by the Prime Minister to investigate the allegations, and hopes that Uganda's good work will not be tainted by the few bad apples.
“We wish to underline that corrupt acts of individuals should not be attributed to the integrity of all - who are providing a valuable service to humanity.” Valentin Tapsoba, Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Africa.
UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi listens to stories from refugees from South Sudan.