CDH-VICAR Raises Alarm Over Coercive and Unethical Refugee Interviews in Nakivale Settlement

CDH/VICAR has documented a deeply concerning pattern unfolding in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, echoing the alarming practices recently observed in Tanzania. Beginning on Monday, 17 November 2025, Burundian refugees in Nakivale reported being subjected to interviews on highly sensitive issues, including the reasons they fled Burundi and the specific challenges they face in the camp. While such questions are typically reserved for trained, independent protection officers, our findings confirm that these interviews are being conducted by other refugees, not by qualified humanitarian professionals.

The individuals carrying out these interviews are reportedly equipped with T-shirts bearing the message “Repatriation is Free and Your Choice.” Some are already known within the refugee community for being unreliable or aligned with interests that undermine refugee protection. The decision to deploy refugees to question fellow refugees on topics involving persecution, safety, and camp conditions raises a profound breach of confidentiality, informed consent, and protection ethics. Preliminary reports suggest that these activities may have been facilitated by the organization Alight, prompting additional questions regarding mandates, oversight, and compliance with international protection standards.

These practices have created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, especially after the production of controversial lists in Tanzania that were used to facilitate forced repatriation efforts. Refugees in Nakivale now fear that similar steps may be underway in Uganda, particularly amid credible reports of lobbying efforts targeting the Ugandan government to authorize the return of Burundian refugees. Several testimonies point to the Burundian Embassy in Uganda as playing a role in these pressures. Such actions directly contradict the principle of voluntary repatriation, which requires decisions free from coercion, intimidation, or manipulation.

As part of our protection-monitoring mandate, CDH/VICAR is documenting these developments, engaging stakeholders, and raising alerts to ensure the rights of Burundian refugees are upheld. We call on the Government of Uganda, UNHCR, and all humanitarian actors to immediately halt these practices, clarify mandates, and restore safe and confidential channels for refugee interviews. CDH/VICAR will continue to advocate for full respect of international protection standards and the safeguarding of refugees’ dignity and security across the region.