Land, Livelihood, and Limited Resources: Uganda’s Refugee Hosting Challenge
Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Africa, with nearly 1.7 million individuals as of 2024, primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This immense population reflects Uganda's decades-long commitment to providing refuge, underscored by progressive policies aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees. These policies grant refugees land, freedom of movement, and the ability to reside in urban areas if they can support themselves. However, Uganda faces significant challenges, including chronic underfunding. For example, the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan (UCRRP) for 2024, requiring $858 million to assist over 1.67 million refugees and 2.7 million host community members, has received only 13% of the necessary funds. This funding shortfall exacerbates the strain on humanitarian services, especially amid global distractions and competing crises elsewhere.
The civil war in the DRC and refugees in Uganda
The situation is particularly dire for refugees from the DRC, which has been plagued by decades of conflict and mass displacement. The violence in eastern provinces has displaced 6.9 million people internally, with an additional 60,000 fleeing to Uganda in 2022 alone, primarily women and children escaping intensified fighting between government forces and rebel groups. As of April 2024, approximately 1.62 million refugees and asylum seekers reside in Uganda, with the majority being from South Sudan and the DRC. Despite being a haven for these individuals, Uganda's resources are stretched thin. Rising costs of food and fuel, driven partly by global factors such as Russia's war in Ukraine, further challenge the ability of humanitarian agencies to meet basic needs. Many Congolese refugees face dire conditions upon arrival. Maisha, a 26-year-old woman from North Kivu, recounts her harrowing journey to Uganda after losing her family and surviving multiple displacements within the DRC. After three weeks of walking, she arrived at the Nyakabande transit center, where she endured a month of sleeping on a concrete floor without basic necessities before being transferred to the Juru settlement. Like many others, she struggles to survive on insufficient food rations and infertile land that cannot sustain cultivation. Under the World Food Programme's prioritization scheme, food and cash assistance decrease over time, leaving refugees like Maisha vulnerable.
Attempts to earn money in local communities often result in rejection or expose refugees, especially women, to risks of violence and exploitation. Despite these hardships, returning to the DRC is not a viable option for most refugees due to the persistent instability and threat of violence. For instance, clashes between the Congolese national army and M23 rebels in eastern DRC continue to drive thousands into Uganda. In August 2024 alone, 10,000 people crossed the border, and 36,000 were displaced within the DRC. These displacements often occur under traumatic circumstances, as illustrated by the testimonies of Seka Junior, who was shot during an attack, and Bibwesho, who sought refuge in a school after being driven out of her village. Many displaced people remain reluctant to return home, fearing ongoing conflict and further victimization. This reluctance underscores the protracted nature of the refugee crisis and the urgent need for durable solutions. Uganda's approach to integrating refugees into its society is commendable but under-resourced. Refugees are provided with village-like settlements and some land, but the quality of land and access to livelihood opportunities are inadequate. The challenges are compounded by Uganda’s broader economic struggles and the declining international attention to its refugee crisis. While Uganda's policies represent a model for refugee-hosting countries, the current situation demonstrates the limitations of even the most progressive frameworks without sufficient international support. The Congolese refugee crisis remains one of the most pressing humanitarian issues in the region.
Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Uganda
Uganda has received over 100,000 asylum seekers since January 2024, with Sudanese refugees making up 36% of new arrivals. This influx, driven by over a year of intense conflict in Sudan, has strained Uganda’s resources, particularly in settlements like Kiryandongo, where 150-200 refugees are screened daily. The settlement faces severe shortages in medical supplies, infrastructure, and essential services, highlighting the urgent need for increased funding. The Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan remains only 23% funded, leaving many vulnerable individuals without adequate care. Refugees arrive traumatized, fleeing what the International Rescue Committee calls a "humanitarian catastrophe." The violence in Sudan has forced millions to flee, with many arriving in neighboring countries like Uganda, which continues to uphold its open-door policy despite significant challenges. South Sudanese refugees represent another significant population within Uganda, which has been a major destination for those escaping violence since the outbreak of civil war in South Sudan in 2013. Uganda hosts approximately 950,000 South Sudanese refugees, the largest number globally, many of whom reside in northern districts such as Adjumani, home to settlements like Boroli I. The government's progressive refugee policy provides 30x30 meter plots of land per household, cash or food rations, and freedom of movement. However, these resources are insufficient to meet refugees’ needs. Cash assistance of UGX 31,000 (just over USD $8) per month often falls short of covering food and other necessities, forcing many refugees, especially women, to engage in informal income-generating activities like selling rations, braiding hair, or brewing alcohol. This informal economy provides limited income and exposes refugees to exploitation and insecurity.
Gender roles within refugee communities have shifted significantly. Women often register as heads of households, a departure from traditional norms in both Sudanese and South Sudanese cultures. This shift, while empowering for some, also places an enormous burden on women, who must manage their families’ survival under challenging conditions. For example, Betty, a refugee from Nimule, South Sudan, supports ten children, including six of her brother’s, by brewing and selling alcohol. She faces challenges like insufficient income, competition over land and resources, and exploitation by local landowners. Informal agreements to rent land often end in disputes, leaving refugees vulnerable to eviction after they have invested time and labor in cultivation. Additionally, collecting natural resources such as grass for thatching roofs has led to tensions with host communities, as refugees are often accused of overusing or misusing these resources. Some refugees opt to leave settlements for urban areas, seeking better opportunities and services. However, life outside the settlements presents its own challenges. Refugees must cover healthcare, education, and other expenses out of pocket, often without support from aid organizations. Discrimination and exploitation remain prevalent, with refugees reporting being overcharged at markets or judged for selling rations intended for their survival. Despite these challenges, urban areas offer more diverse employment opportunities.
For instance, Idro, a South Sudanese refugee, moved to town to pursue education and work with NGOs. His work focuses on community engagement and addressing gender issues, highlighting the need to involve men in initiatives to ensure their success. The presence of refugees in Uganda has significantly impacted host communities. In Adjumani, which hosts over 200,000 refugees — almost matching the local population — both positive and negative changes have occurred. Refugees have brought economic activity, making markets more accessible, but have also increased competition for resources. Some hosts express concerns about displacement, damage to crops by refugee livestock, and environmental degradation caused by practices like unsustainable woodcutting. To address these issues, initiatives such as marking protected trees with blue strips have been implemented, fostering cooperation and sustainability. Christine, a long-time resident of Boroli village, views the situation as an opportunity for solidarity, emphasizing the shared humanity between hosts and refugees.
The diverse backgrounds of refugees in settlements further complicate integration. Over 40 different tribes from South Sudan coexist in settlements like Boroli I, bringing with them varying cultural practices and histories of conflict. This diversity occasionally leads to intercommunal tensions, as refugees navigate their new environment. These tensions are compounded by the limited resources and services available, which force refugees and hosts into competition. However, efforts by NGOs and local governments to mediate these conflicts and promote shared resources have shown promise. Uganda’s approach to refugee integration is lauded globally, yet it faces immense challenges. With more than 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers—primarily from Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — Uganda remains the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Despite its progressive policies, the country struggles to provide sufficient support due to chronic underfunding and the scale of the crisis. Refugees often live in precarious conditions, relying on limited rations and informal work, while host communities face disruptions to their traditional ways of life. Addressing these challenges requires sustained international support, increased funding, and comprehensive policies that consider the needs of both refugees and host populations. Only through such efforts can Uganda continue to uphold its reputation as a beacon of refugee integration amidst one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises.
The shift in Ugandan integration policies
Uganda’s refugee integration policy, often lauded as one of the most progressive in the world, is now under immense strain due to a combination of increasing arrivals, dwindling funding, and shifts in government strategy. Since the beginning of 2024, Uganda has welcomed over 33,000 Sudanese refugees, with 19,000 settling in Kampala, adding to the 1.7 million refugees already hosted by the country. These arrivals are not solely from Sudan but also from conflict and climate-affected regions such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, contributing to an average influx of 2,500 people per week. This relentless flow of refugees places enormous pressure on Uganda’s protection and assistance systems, risking the collapse of its celebrated refugee response model. The funding shortfall is acute, with only 13% of the $858 million required for the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan (UCRRP) in 2024 secured by mid-year. The consequences of this underfunding are evident across sectors critical to both refugees and host communities, with health services, education, and livelihood programs severely impacted. The health sector exemplifies the challenges posed by insufficient resources. Refugees and host communities alike rely on the same overstretched facilities, where staff reductions and shortages of medical supplies have reached critical levels. The outbreak of conjunctivitis in refugee settlements such as Nakivale highlights the dire state of basic hygiene due to water and soap shortages, compounding health vulnerabilities. Mental health is another pressing concern, with four attempted suicides among refugees in Adjumani in a two-week period underscoring the need for targeted psychological support. Education, too, is faltering under the weight of demand, as overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teachers, and a lack of educational materials hinder access to quality learning for refugee children, who constitute more than half of the total refugee population.
Restrictions on movement and access to urban areas mark a significant shift in Uganda’s historically inclusive refugee policy. The January 2024 announcement barring Sudanese refugees from registering in Kampala and other urban centers represents a departure from Uganda’s 2006 Refugee Act and 2010 Refugee Regulations, which had granted refugees freedom of movement, the right to work, and access to health and education. The policy shift now mandates residency in camps to obtain legal documentation, effectively tethering refugees like Mohamed and her family to places such as Kiryandongo Camp, where resources are increasingly scarce. While this policy has been justified by government officials on the grounds of security and reducing pressure on urban services, it starkly contrasts with Uganda’s reputation as a model of refugee integration and threatens the socio-economic inclusion envisioned by the Global Compact on Refugees. The impact of underfunding exacerbates the challenges of self-reliance and economic integration for refugees. Programs aimed at income generation, such as vocational training and cash-for-work initiatives, have been scaled back, leaving many refugees dependent on ever-diminishing aid. Food rations for new arrivals are initially allocated at 100% but are reduced significantly after three months, with vulnerable groups receiving only 60% of previous allocations and others as little as 30% or none at all. Meanwhile, cash transfers from the World Food Programme have fallen to a fraction of their pre-pandemic levels, declining from $10 per person per month to just $4, further straining refugees’ ability to meet basic needs. The lack of financial support is compounded by dwindling opportunities for long-term livelihood development, as funding cuts force local NGOs to limit vocational training and other empowerment programs.
Uganda’s funding challenges are part of a broader trend affecting global refugee response efforts, yet the consequences are particularly severe in a country hosting Africa’s largest refugee population. At the December 2023 UNHCR Global Refugee Forum, Uganda’s inclusion in the top 13 underfunded operations globally highlighted the disconnect between its ambitious refugee policies and the international community’s commitment to sustaining them. Inadequate funding jeopardizes not only refugee well-being but also peaceful coexistence with host communities, which are similarly affected by the strain on shared resources and services. The regional implications of Uganda’s refugee policy are profound. As refugees begin leaving Uganda due to deteriorating conditions, the stability of neighboring countries may be affected, underscoring the interconnectedness of refugee management in the East African region. Uganda’s historic “open door” policy, which has allowed refugees to access land, education, and employment, now risks unraveling under the weight of unmet needs. To prevent further erosion of this model, increased international support is imperative. Advocacy efforts by UNHCR and Ugandan officials targeting donor governments and EU institutions emphasize the urgency of addressing funding gaps to uphold Uganda’s commitment to refugee protection and integration. Failure to act risks undermining development gains, weakening institutional capacity, and compromising the well-being of both refugees and host communities in Uganda.
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