Uganda’s government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced plans to temporarily host 2,000 Afghan refugees whose country has fallen under the control of the Taliban.
This move has drawn mixed reactions with Umar Mulinde, the senior Pastor of Gospel Life Church International, urging government to first evacuate “Ugandans who are trapped in Afghanistan” before welcoming Afghan refugees in the country.
Pastor Mulinde also stated that the move will increase the possibility of “terrorism activities” in Uganda, “due to the well known militant nature and religious ideology of the Afghans,” he said.
“President Biden and President Museveni should abandon their plan of importing Afghan created “refugees” to Uganda.” Mr Mulinde said in an update. “Why serve foreign interests and be more interested in importing foreign created refugees than helping our own Ugandans trapped abroad?”
He continued: “It should be noted that Uganda is among the smallest and poor countries, but ranks 3rd in the whole world and the leading in Africa in keeping refugees, why add more far distant refugees to the already crowded and poverty stricken country yet there some big and so rich countries with almost no refugees?”
The acid violence attack survivor, and Christian convert from a Muslim background urged that the Afghan refugees should be hosted by counties close to Afghanistan. He mentioned Iran Pakistan, Uzbekistan, or even Saudi Arabia.
“We should also remember that for the long time, Afghanistan has been among the leading in Islamist terrorism, therefore, Uganda might end up inviting more troubles not limited to only grabbing land to settle imported refugees, but also possibilities of increased terrorism activities due to the well known militant nature and religious ideology of the Afghans,” he said.
Speaking to media reporters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday that Uganda’s decision to host Afghan refugees came after a request from the U.S.
“Following last weekend’s events in Afghanistan, the U.S. government has reached out to several of its international partners, including Uganda, to assist in the likely need to temporarily house some Afghans and international citizens who may be evacuated,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
President Yoweri Museveni “has expressed Uganda’s readiness to provide assistance, including (for) the temporary accommodation of some of those affected by the current crisis,” the statement added, citing Uganda’s “long history and tradition of hosting” refugees.
Uganda is one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries, with nearly 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers living there, the majority from South Sudan and the DRC.
