Kampala fingered in possible refugee scam

Four Ugandan Government officials have been suspended over allegations that they inflated the number of refugees in the country. The Commissioner for Refugees, Apollo Kazungu, and three of his senior staff are being investigated. Investigations will also consider whether officials from UN aid agencies were involved. The Daily Monitor reports that the issue was first raised by UN country representative Rosa Malango. One spot check in Kampala found just 7 000 refugees when there were reported to be 26 000 who needed aid. A spokesperson for the UN's refugee agency, Babar Balouch, addressed the matter with BBC News. ‘The reports we have received included faking documents on delivery of food assistance and demanding refugees to pay bribes for services which should be free,’ he said.