Local government leaders are demanding an amendment to the Refugee Act to give refugee host communities the mandate to directly handle refugee issues.
The concern emerged during a meeting in Kampala organized by the African Women and Youth for Development, in partnership with the Uganda Local Government Association.
State Minister of Local Government Jennifer Namuyangu proposed an amendment in the refugee policy to allow local governments directly engage in refugee issues instead of the Office of the Prime Minister and NGOs.
Security threats and the high HIV preference rate were singled out as some of the major challenges refugees pose to the host communities
Gulu district chairman Martin Ojara Mapenduzi says some South Sudanese Refugees have firearms, posing a security great to his community.