The data verification process for Sudanese refugees registered in Kampala, Uganda, is set to begin on Thursday and will continue until November 4. According to a schedule released by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the verification will be conducted on specific dates for different groups of refugees, with the process suspended on Saturdays and Sundays. The verification involves updating refugee data and adding family members.
The verification process is a mandatory exercise that takes place every three years to review and update the information of registered refugees. Sudanese activist Alaa Bashir has been sharing updates on the verification process, including schedules and centers, on her Facebook page. She has also been providing guidance to refugees on how to access their appointment dates and complete their transactions.
Refugees have been divided into groups based on their registration numbers, and each family can find its group number on its Family Attestation card. The schedule, which consists of around 300 pages, is being shared on social media to facilitate access to the verification process. Refugees can also make changes to their refugee ID or Family Attestation card at the OPM office on Wednesdays.
In addition to updating data, refugees can add newborns to their Family Attestation cards on Fridays. The verification process is also taking place in refugee camps, including Bialia and Arua, where refugees are required to go to specific centers to complete the process. The location of the verification centers is determined by the place of registration, not the current place of residence.
Many Sudanese families in Kampala face financial challenges in traveling to registration centers, particularly those with large families or limited income. The cost of transportation from Kampala to Bialia ranges from 20,000 to 25,000 Ugandan shillings per person, while traveling to Arua costs between 30,000 and 35,000 shillings. Accommodation costs also add to the financial burden.
Alaa Bashir has urged Sudanese families to coordinate with each other to share travel costs and rent collective transportation at affordable prices. She has also encouraged Sudanese residents in shared accommodation to organize voluntary financial contributions to support families who cannot afford travel and accommodation costs.
Bashir has warned refugees against paying any money to individuals who claim to facilitate the verification process or speed it up in exchange for money. She emphasized that asylum-related registration services are provided free of charge and do not require bribes or dealing with middlemen to complete transactions.
Key points
- The data verification process for Sudanese refugees in Uganda is mandatory and takes place every three years.
- The verification process involves updating refugee data and adding family members.
- Refugees face financial challenges in traveling to registration centers, particularly those with large families or limited income.
