Uganda marks World Refugee Day, calls for urgent global support

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Uganda is today, June 20, 2025, marking World Refugee Day at Panyadoli Secondary School in Bweyale town council, Kiryandongo district.

The event is being commemorated under the global theme: Solidarity with Refugees, with urgent calls for increased international support as the country grapples with a growing refugee crisis and shrinking humanitarian aid.

With over 1.9 million refugees and asylum seekers, Uganda remains the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and among the top globally. In the first half of 2025 alone, the country received more than 112,000 new arrivals, including 67,000 from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Government and humanitarian partners say the response system is overstretched. Reception centres are operating at over 300% capacity, and essential services such as shelter, water, sanitation, education and health care are under intense strain.

"Every refugee that crosses into Uganda finds safety and the promise of protection. This is what Uganda has practised for decades," relief, disaster preparedness and refugees minister Hilary Onek said.

However, a steep decline in donor funding has forced agencies to scale back life-saving services.

The World Food Programme (WFP) cut food assistance from 1.6 million refugees in April to just 662,000 by May, reducing rations by up to 80% for those still receiving aid.

“Only new arrivals and the most vulnerable families now get food, and even then, in the smallest ration sizes WFP provides in East Africa,” said Genevieve Chicoine, Acting WFP Uganda Country Director.

The education sector has also been affected, with a shortage of teachers and health workers leading to overcrowded classrooms and health centres.

“When funding is cut, refugees suffer most—from long queues at health centres to children missing school,” Refugee Welfare Council III chairperson, Milly Nancy Lagu, said.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Uganda, Matthew Crentsil, called for a stronger international commitment.

“Solidarity must go beyond words. It means investing in refugee protection and in the future of those who have lost everything.”

Uganda and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term refugee inclusion. The country has urged the global community to match its generosity with action.

“Solidarity with refugees is not an option — it must be action,” the government stated.

EU boost

The European Union recently earmarked euros four million (approximately sh16.7b) to enhance cash-based support for vulnerable refugees and host community members across 13 settlements in Uganda.

The funds, which are being channelled through the Uganda Cash Consortium (UCC), bring EU's total funding to the consortium to euros 17.2 million (about shillings 71.8 billion) since the project’s inception in 2023, according to an advert in New Vision's print edition of June 17, 2025.