Burundi Crisis:

On 31 March 2015, tensions linked to the elections in Burundi prompted a sudden mass influx of refugees to Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, DR lesser to Congo fleeing fear and persecution linked to the political situation, todate, socio-political tensions have been rising in Burundi ahead of the general elections to held in June 2015. The presidential and legislative elections were considered a critical milestone for the long-term peace and stability of the country. However, tensions are increasing and the political landscape is marred by polarization and limited political space and killings of innocent citizens. Protests between supporters of the opposing political parties became increasingly violent, mostly in the capital Bujumbura. In particular, intimidation by the imbonerakure — the armed and increasingly violent youth wing of Burundi’s ruling party, the Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD) - has been cited as one of the main reasons by Burundians to flee to neighbouring countries. Since the beginning of April 2015, a steady outflow of Burundians has been taking place first into Rwanda and now increasingly to the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania), Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and, to a lesser extent.

Several key events in Bujumbura, such as the 26 April  2015 announcement of the current President’s intention to run a third term, considered by the opposition as against the Arusha Accord of 2000, and the attempted coup by military leaders on 13 May 2015 while the President was on a visit to Tanzania, have resulted in more violence in and around Bujumbura and the outflow of Burundians to neighbouring countries has dramatically increased. On 22 April 2015 UNHCR declared an L1 emergency and on 11 May 2015, in response to the worsening of the situation, a UNHCR L2 emergency was declared and a Regional Refugee Coordinator was appointed.

Since the onset of the crisis, and as of 02 July 2015, 340,229 Burundian people have fled to neighboring countries out of which 177,335 people have sought protection in the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania), 29,975 Uganda, 83,113 Rwanda and 30,205 DR Congo.

The refugees face many problems and challenges that make their life very hard in Uganda:

• Eating:They do not have enough to eat ,most of them are malnourished especially children under 5 years
• Hiegiene and sanitary:They live in promiscuity, lack water and sanitary materials to maintain hygiene and safe life
• Poverty:Refugees do not access to any income because their opportunity of getting a job is very limited while many citizens are also unemployed. In addition ,they cannot do any business due to poor financial resources.
• Health problems: The poor hygiene and sanitary situation results in diseases mostly communicable diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery as well as malaria and acute malnutrition .Mothers and children are more vulnerable than other categories of people
• Education: numerous youth do not have access to school and are at risk of misbehaviour such as alcohol consummation and drug use