UNHCR, APRIL 2023 REFUGEES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION Refugees with no documents from country of origin 83.3 86.9 88.9 Burundi All 4 countries DRC 95.6 69.3 South Sudan Rwanda In Uganda, it has in the past been official practice to require surrender of identity documents from the country of origin when an asylum application is made. This practice aimed to prevent refugees moving backwards and forwards between the two countries. The documents would be handed back to refugees upon repatriation, if it became possible.81 The practice existed mainly during the period before the Control of Alien Refugees Act 1960 was replaced by the Refugees Act of 2006, and has generally ceased but continues to impact some long-term refugees. It is not in line with international law, and such documents should be returned to the refugees affected. The long-term refugees participating in focus groups in Uganda confirmed that the great majority had no documents issued by South Sudan or DRC, whether they had been lost in flight or they had come from remote areas where no registration services were available; and in some cases because of arson and theft of property in the settlements in Uganda. While adult refugees without such documents stated that they could likely prove citizenship through their languages and other cultural knowledge, they recognised that their children born in Uganda would have more difficulty. None of the refugees who participated in the FGDs had attempted any access to consular services provided by their country’s embassy. Most were ignorant of its existence, while others did not see the need to approach the embassy (unaware of requirements related to birth registration with the consular authorities, for example) . A few were not sure how safe such contact would be. None of the Congolese refugees in Rwanda who participated in focus groups had ever approached their embassy, or knew of anyone who had done so. Greatest challenges Unsurprisingly, livelihood questions such as access to food, land and shelter, education, and health care were the most urgent needs mentioned by the refugees surveyed. However, among almost 6,500 responses to the request to list these needs, 8 percent mentioned documentation, nationality or civil registration, rising to 13 percent if freedom of movement – closely linked to identity documents – was included.82 The immediate subsistence concerns were also reflected in focus groups. The general standard of living in the areas where refugees live is very poor; and refugees face greater challenges than members of host communities in gaining adequate access to land for farming, even if they may have access to some humanitarian assistance. 81 Interview with Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda, 2021. 82 A total of 6476 responses were recorded in response to the invitation to list the most serious problems a refugee faced. Among these responses food was mentioned 1170 times; land, housing or she lter 919; education 901; other livelihood issues 864; healthcare 834; access to formal employment 646; freedom of movement 316; documentation 238; nationality 204; civil registration 89; family reunification 87; and other 208. 25