IOM Uganda on Monday hosted the commemoration of International Migrants Day, with ceremonies in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Different speakers noted that migration is reality that cannot and should not be fought; rather, what needs to be done is for the government and its partners to strive to make migration safe.
The Migrants Day theme in Uganda was “The Challenges and Promises of Migration”, mirroring the global theme of “Safe Migration in a World on the Move”.

Both the Acting chief of Mission at IOM, Ms Elisa Crowe, and the Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Alain Sibenaler, commended the Government for recent initiatives to streamline labour migration to the Middle East. But they called for these efforts to be stepped up.

Representing Internal Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr Benon Mutambi, Senior Immigration Officer Agnes Igoye outlined steps Government has taken to improve management of Migration. She, however urged parents to encourage youth to stick to formal channels of migration, lets they end up in the hands of human traffickers.

Other speakers included Ambassador Philip Odida, the head of the Diaspora Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who decried the dangers of irregular migration.

The events included a lively band-led procession from Nakivubo Blue Primary School to St Peter’s school in Nsambya, as well as thrilling performances from FAARU, a refugees artistes’ group.

Below are some of the highlights: