Last Change:

03/21/2025

The Refugees Act (2006)

Year: 2006

Type: Domestic law

Rights Category: Work & Workplace rights

Link to external source: https://ulii.org/akn/ug/act/2006/21/eng@2006-08-04#part_IV__sec_21
Description

The Refugees Act (2006) is the principal law that addresses rights, obligations, and protections of refugees and asylum seekers. The law also establishes institutions and procedures for the conduct of matters of interest to PoCs. The Refugees Act provides for (1) Determination of refugee status (part II), (2) Administrative matters relating to refugees (part III), (3) Application for refugee status and related matters (part IV),(4) Rights and obligations of refugees (part V), (5) Miscellaneous matters (prosecution of unlawful entry into Uganda (section 38), procedures for withdrawal of refugee status (section 39), expulsion of refugees(section 40), extradition of refugees(sections 41, 42), settlements and transit centres (section 44), naturalisation of refugees (section 45), voluntary repatriation (section 46)).

Selected provisions
Section 29(e)(iii) - Rights of refugees while in Uganda (Access to Education)

(1) A recognised refugee shall, subject to this Act, the OAU Convention and the Geneva Convention—
(e) receive at least the same treatment accorded to aliens generally in similar circumstances relating to —
(iii) education, other than elementary education for which refugees must receive the same treatment as nationals, and in particular, regarding access to particular studies, the recognition of foreign certificates, diplomas and degrees and the remission of fees and charges;

Section 29(1)(f) - Rights of Refugees while in Uganda (Freedom of Religion)

(1) A recognised refugee shall, subject to this Act, the OAU Convention and the Geneva Convention —
(f) have the same rights as the nationals of Uganda with respect to practicing their religion and the religious education of their children.

Section 30 - Freedom of Movement

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a recognised refugee is entitled to free movement in Uganda
(2) The free movement of a recognised refugees in Uganda is subject to reasonable restrictions specified in the laws of Uganda, or directions issued by the Commissioner, which apply to aliens generally in the same circumstances, especially on grounds of national security, public order, public health, public morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others;

Section 44 - Settlements and transit centres

(1) The Minister may, in accordance with the Constitution and any other law, by notice published in the Gazette, designate places or areas on public land to be transit centres or refugee settlements for the purposes of —

(a) temporarily accommodating persons who have applied for grant
of refugee status pending the processing and consideration of their
applications by the Eligibility Committee; and
(b) local settlement and integration of refugees whose applications
for refugee status have been granted.

(2) An applicant or refugee who may wish to stay in a place other than the designated places or areas may apply to the Commissioner for permission to reside in any other part of Uganda.

(3) A refugee who is authorised to stay in a place other than a designated place or area under subsection (2) of this section, may be required to report to the local or urban council of the area or to an authorised officer from time to time.

Section 29(1)(a) - Rights of refugees while in Uganda (Documentation)

(1) A recognised refugee shall, subject to this Act, the OAU Convention and the Geneva Convention —

(a) be issued with an identity card in a prescribed form stating the refugee status of the holder for purposes of identification and protection;

Section 24(1)(a) - Entitlement of refugee after submission of application (Documentation)

(1) After an applicant has submitted an application for refugee status to the Eligibility Committee under section 19 of this Act, the applicant shall —

(a) be issued with a temporary document valid for a period of ninety days from the date it is issued, and thereafter the document is renewable every two months until all rights connected with or incidental to applications for refugee status are exhausted.

Section 2 - Interpretation ("travel document")

"travel document" means a travel document issued under or in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention to a refugee lawfully staying in Uganda, for the purpose of travel outside Uganda.

Section 26(1) - Family of recognised refugee (immigration and identity)

1) Every member of the family of a recognised refugee who enters Uganda shall enjoy the same protection as that recognised refugee and shall —
(a) be permitted to enter and remain in Uganda for as long as the recognised refugee is permitted to remain; and
(b) be issued with all necessary documents relevant to his or her status.

Section 32(3) - Right of refugee children (Identification documents)

(3) Identification documents for children and unaccompanied minors shall be issued in accordance with the principles applicable to a recognised refugee.

Section 34 - Personal status.

(1) The personal status of a recognised refugee shall be governed by the law of the country of his or her domicile or, if he or she has no domicile, by the law currently in force in Uganda.

(2) All rights previously acquired by a refugee and dependent on personal status, particularly rights attaching to marriage, shall be respected, subject to the laws of Uganda.

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