In continuation of our efforts to support families separated by conflict, famine or disaster, Refugees United is pleased to extend our on-the-ground mobile operations to Uganda. Launching next week in Kampala, our program will initially target the nearly 30,000 urban refugees who live within the city limits. Most refugees in the area are of Congolese decent, followed by South Sudanese and Ethiopian. Refugees United will be working with InterAid, UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency), the Xavier Project and the Office of the Prime Minister to increase awareness of the Refugees United tool and register those in need.
Project Lead, Duke Odongo (pictured above), a native Ugandan who previously worked for Google, will be leading our team there. Duke is looking forward to starting operations and says, “I am very happy to be able to help more people in need of our services find their families.” After extensive training, an initial team of 4 Outreach Volunteers will start work in the community. The team hopes to register 120 people per week with plans to triple in size and reach in the coming months. Outreach Volunteers will register those in need of our services using their mobile phones, and show them how to use the platform to search and send messages.
Uganda has historically been very welcoming to refugees the world around. The recent influx of 60,000 Congolese Refugees now living in western Uganda is testament to that. We are monitoring this situation closely so that we can be as helpful as possible. Immediate needs must be tended to at the start of such a crisis, food, water and shelter are paramount. However, as the new arrivals extend across the country into other camps and urban areas, Refugees United will be working closely will many people affected by the crisis to help them find their missing loved ones.
In addition to our operations on-the-ground, those in need of assistance will soon be able to call a toll-free phone number for support. Ugandans across country will use this number to call our agents in Nairobi, Kenya for assistance with a search, registration, or to receive technical support where physical support is not available. Starting in September, Refugees United will also launch Radio campaigns on three major stations across the region to raise awareness of our services. Users can also always register through our website, www.refunite.org, via mobile or web.
We are so pleased to be able to extend our services to Uganda. We hear so many heartbreaking stories from those who have fled their homes with nothing, let’s help change their narrative and start searching today.
For more information please contact Communications Manager, Ida Jeng: ij@refunite.org
Picture: Uganda Project Lead Duke Daniel Odongo (middle) with Refugees United’s new volunteer team.
