A group of refugees seeking asylum in Uganda from Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Ethiopia have asked for representation in the Ugandan Parliament.

The refugees, led by Robert Kiiza, made this appeal during a news conference on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Nsambya, Kampala.

According to the refugees, they feel ignored and abandoned, and having a representative in Parliament would provide them with a voice and ensure that their problems are heard and handled.

However, some Ugandans are skeptical of the refugees’ appeal, claiming that only citizens can be represented in Parliament and that refugees are deemed ‘guests under ‘temporary State protection.’

“Refugees are not citizens of the country, and according to Ugandan law, only citizens can have representatives in Parliament, and honestly, as a country, this is precedent that the country cannot afford to set,” Peterson Ssali, a Ugandan resident, stated.

According to Kiiza, however, refugees are frequently exploited by individuals and groups that aim to benefit from their vulnerable status without consulting them.

“We are currently confronted with a slew of challenges. One of the most serious issues is that we are frequently not allowed to work, which severely limits our ability to support ourselves and our families,” Kizza explained.

The refugees also mentioned that they hope that their opinions will be heard and their problems addressed through open and inclusive conversations because they constitute a sizable proportion of Uganda’s population.

Uganda is Africa’s largest refugee hosting country, with over two million registered refugees and asylum seekers in the Prime Minister’s Office (OPM).