18 December 2020 was the 20th International Migrants Day. In Uganda, the day was commemorated with a largely virtual event, with the minister of Relief Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon Hilary Onek, as Chief Guest. The theme of the day was Reimagining Human Mobility, with a focus on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

A key feature of the event was a panel discussion on the theme in the Ugandan context.  The panelists, moderated by IOM National Programme Officer Joycelynn Karungi, included Ms Agnes Igoye, the deputy National Coordinator for Trafficking in Persons in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ms Peggie Ayesiga from the Office of the prime Minister; Dr Revocatus Twinomuhangi from Makerere University; Mr Karl Marx Musinguzi from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; and Mr Damon Wamara from Uganda Child Rights Network and a member of the national Trafficking in Persons Task Force.

In his closing remarks, Minister Onek said Uganda appreciates the value of the Global Compact for Migration and was involved in all the consultative processes leading up to its adoption in Morocco two years ago.

He noted that under the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM), led by the Office of the Prime Minister, the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders have been working on the implementation of GCM. He encouraged the NCM to press on with the next steps in the implementation of the GCM.

The Acting UN Resident Coordinator for Uganda, Mr Alain Sibenaler (UNFPA Representative), commended the Government for creating a conducive environment for the UN to support on issues such as migration. He appealed to the Government to expedite the approval of the National Migration Policy, as this would help streamline migration management in the country.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, IOM Uganda Chief of Mission Sanusi Tejan Savage said: “The Global Compact for Migration epitomizes the world’s desire to maximize fruits of migration, and states’ determination to address related challenges.”