South Sudan refugees affect service delivery in West Nile

KOBOKO-The influx of refugees from South Sudan into Uganda is stifling service delivery since the affected districts did not plan for such interventions in their annual budgets, according to local leaders.

 They say, the problem in Koboko has been worsened by the fact that the district has not supplementary funding from the central government to cater for the refugee crisis.

The refugees have continued to flee from their unstable country to Uganda especially in the districts of Koboko, Arua, Yumbe and Adjumani.

 Last week, Koboko District Chairman,  Mr Hassan Nginya, asked the Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Ms Grace Kwiyocwiny to inform Parliament and Cabinet that the affected refugee- hosting districts have no resources to cater for the rising number of refugees.

 “We have few boreholes, health centres and schools. Much as they [refugees] are welcome to stay with us, government should help us provide additional funds because we currently operate on already approved budgets for this year,” he said.

Mr Nginya said the government should help resettle the refugees who have refused to be relocated to Yumbe District saying the immigrants pose a security threat if allowed to settle in Koboko district.

About 5,864 refugees are stranded at Ropoli Village in Oraba Parish, Kuluba Sub-County and 3,683 at Angili Village.