With support from the Government of Japan, IOM Uganda recently organized a Pilot Training on Immigration Intelligence, which was attended by 32 government officials.

This was the first in a cycle of trainings under the Japan-funded project titled: “Comprehensive Border Management for a Strengthened Response to Emergency Mass Migration and Identification of Individual Security Threats in Uganda.”  Among other objectives, the project aims to reinforce the Government of Uganda’s capacity to gather and process intelligence information to effectively deter transnational security threats.

Participants at the training came from the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC), Ministry of Health, Internal Security Organization, External Security Organization, Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda Police Force and Uganda Revenue Authority.

The topics tackled during the training included the Immigration Context in Uganda, Immigration Intelligence Lifecycle, Immigration Intelligence Link to Migrants and Refugees, Data Protection and Human Rights.

The training was facilitated by the IOM Uganda Immigration Intelligence consultant, Mr Steve Little.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Assistant Commissioner for Citizenship, Mr Pat Cheborion, thanked IOM and the Government of Japan for supporting various government institutions in promoting border management in Uganda.  

He acknowledged that DCIC continues to benefit from the existing partnership with IOM, which also includes operational support for a more efficient management of border. The current program will support DCIC also on improving radio communication in hard-to-reach border points and the installation of solar power at border posts across the country for 24/7 security.

Over the decades, IOM has been supporting migration management efforts through capacity building trainings for Uganda Government officials, infrastructural support through provision of equipment and technical support on development of migration-related policies.

These efforts are in line with global, regional and national frameworks, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact for safe and orderly migration (GCM). SDG target 10.7, for instance, enounces the commitment to “Facilitate orderly, safe, and responsible migration and mobility of people”, while   the GCM, in Objective 11, enounces the recommended actions for managing borders in an integrated, secure and coordinated manner.

In her opening remarks at the training, the acting IOM Uganda Chief of Mission, Ms Erika De Bona Fofana, said: “This training will be highly beneficial to all stakeholders involved as it provides a platform to enhance skills of officers to prepare and respond to Immigration Intelligence threats, with an emphasis on coordination, integration, and communication with all agencies deployed at the border.”

The trainings will be complemented by simulation exercises to ensure that concepts learnt are incorporated in daily operations of trained officers at their respective duty stations.

Participants also discussed and provided technical inputs to the first draft of the Immigration Intelligence Curriculum, which will contribute to DCIC’s long-term goal of developing the training capacity of the Immigration Training Academy (ITA) in Nakasongola. The ITA was built by IOM in 2017 with funding from the Government of Japan.

^{For further information please contact the IOM Uganda Programme Coordinator Erika De Bona. Email: edebona@iom.int  Tel +256 312 263 210.}

^{Media enquiries can be directed to IOM Uganda Public Information Officer, Richard M Kavuma. Email: ugandapiu@iom.int Tel +256 312 263 210.}