Kampala: Since the beginning of 2025, Uganda has welcomed 600 refugees each day, bringing the total number of new arrivals to nearly two million. However, with funding rapidly depleting, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is raising alarms that the East African nation may soon be unable to continue providing essential services and aid.
According to EMM, Uganda’s progressive refugee policy allows refugees to work and access public services, making it the continent’s largest refugee-hosting country. The country’s geographical proximity to regional crises has also contributed to this status. However, the emergency funding for these efforts is set to run out in September, posing a severe risk to the well-being of these refugees. Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s director for external relations, warns that without renewed global support, the situation could lead to increased malnutrition-related deaths among children, heightened vulnerability to sexual violence for girls, and families lacking shelter and protection.
Many of the refugees seeking safety in Uganda are children. During a recent visit to the refugee camps, Ms. Hyde encountered a 16-year-old girl who fled violence in South Sudan and is now the sole caregiver for her four younger siblings. The girl dreams of continuing her education, but survival is her immediate concern.
Children like her rely heavily on aid from UNHCR and the Ugandan government. Yet, only 25% of the required funding has been secured, leading to a rapidly diminishing supply of aid. “Uganda has opened its doors, its schools, and its health centers. This model can succeed, but it can’t do it alone,” Ms. Hyde emphasized.