Refugee aid fraud under investigation in Uganda

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Uganda is investigating allegations that officials defrauded donors by inflating refugee numbers and diverting food aid, the prime minister’s office said.

The East African country hosts more than a million people who fled war in neighbouring South Sudan and some 400,000 more from Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo, a massive aid operation whistle-blowers said has become subject to fraud.
“The government took them, allegations from UN agencies, seriously and immediately instituted an investigation,” Julius Mucunguzi, spokesman for the prime minister’s office, which overseas refugee affairs, told Reuters.

The UN agencies demand “a proper audit on refugee numbers because the process for verification … has not been robust enough.”
“And related to that is food, so if the numbers are not right, how much food is going to who?” Mucunguzi said. “They want a value for money audit.”

As refugee numbers surged since mid-2016, donors responded to urgent appeals for extra aid.

The European Union, a major donor, said the allegations were forwarded to its own anti-fraud office for investigation.
“It is of utmost importance to address swiftly and thoroughly any allegations of malfeasance in order not to impair … public support from the European taxpayers,” the EU delegation in Uganda said in a statement.

Corruption is widespread in Uganda and successful prosecutions are rare, with courts usually targeting low ranking officials.

Mucunguzi said although it was too early to say whether the allegations were true: “It’s likely there may be malice and people wanting to tarnish a good programme.”