📷 UK launches campaign over refugee response in Uganda

KAMPALA - The UK has inaugurated a campaign to highlight the impact of its hard work in supporting Uganda’s refugee response over the past five years.

British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney announced the humanitarian communications campaign while interacting with her country’s refugee response partners at her residence in Kampala on January 16, 2025.

She said the campaign also serves to highlight their commitment to doing more to support a sustainable refugee response going forward.

H.E Lisa Chesney, the British High Commissioner to Uganda announces shillings 74.2 billion to WFP to support the refugee response in Uganda. The function was at the residence of the British Commissioner in Kampala on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

H.E Lisa Chesney, the British High Commissioner to Uganda (L) with Beatrice Mugabirwe from the National Association for Women's Action in Development as UK announced shillings 74.2 billion to WFP to support the refugee response in Uganda, at the British Commissioner's residence in Kampala on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“The UK has more than doubled our support to Uganda’s refugee response and we want to showcase what this means and the real-life impact we know that it is having. So, you (partners) will all be sharing stories, case studies and evidence about your work, experiences and the powerful impact they have made,” she said.

The UK’s refugee response partners in Uganda include the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund and U-Learn, a consortium funded by the UK Department for International Development. 

Its newer partners over the past year include AVSI Foundation, the National Association for Women’s Action in Development (NAWAD) and GiveDirectly, a non-profit organisation operating in low-income areas.

H.E Lisa Chesney, the British High Commissioner to Uganda (L) with Marcus Prior, Deputy Country Director, World Food Programme as UK announced shillings 74.2 billion to WFP to support the refugee response in Uganda. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

H.E Lisa Chesney, the British High Commissioner to Uganda (left), announces the shillings 74.2 billion to WFP to support the refugee response in Uganda. Looking on the second left is Beatrice Mugabirwe from the National Association for Women's Action in Development. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Over the past five years, the UK has contributed £148m (about shillings 740 billion) through its building resilience and an effective refugee response programme in Uganda.

It has provided immediate life-saving assistance through food, cash and nutrition support, reaching at least 1.4 million people every year. Chesney also said her country has invested in scaling up cash in the refugee response because cash provides dignity and choice to people.

“We have evidence that in Uganda, it (cash) is more efficient, effective, supports local economies and improves food security. We are now supporting self-reliance among refugees and host communities based on really good evidence of what works,” she said.

Elijah Okeyo

Lisette Gontik

She said next week, she will travel to Kisoro district and Nakivale Resettlement in Isingiro district to witness the impact their cash and integrated nutrition support is having on the ground.

“We are proud to have supported the Refugee Engagement Forum, through U-learn which has grown to become a leading example of good practice in accountability to affected populations,” she said.

Innovative cash pilot

The envoy also said they know that the Sudanese refugee arrivals have put an additional strain on the response and as part of a regional response to the Sudan crisis, they are working with GiveDirectly to do an innovative cash pilot which aims to fast-track self-reliance for new arrivals and alleviate pressure on the response.

“Additionally, the UK recognises the importance of embracing clean energy solutions. We recently announced a Global Clean Power Alliance to help accelerate the clean energy transition and tackle the significant challenges to delivering clean power.

“We are pleased to be supporting a local partner, NAWAD, to pilot a clean cooking solution in the Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement. We also recognise the increasing number of refugees who have been welcomed into Uganda. We are proud to be supporting Uganda’s progressive policy through our funding,” she said.

Chesney also said by supporting research, data, evidence and accountability, they make sure as the UK that every pound they spend has the maximum impact.

Over 1.6 million refugees in Uganda

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda currently hosts 1,741,331 refugees and asylum seekers. The refugees comprise 1,693,311 and asylum seekers 48,020.

Of these, 91% live in settlements, while 9% reside in urban areas mainly around Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts. Refugees in Uganda come from 34 countries, with 55.1% from South Sudan, 30.9% from the DR Congo and the remaining 14% from other 32 countries.

Women and children constitute 79% of the refugee population, older adults (60 years and over) make up 3%, youth (15-24 years) comprise 25%, those under 18 years account for 55%, and 51% of the population is female and the numbers continue to rise every day.

What WFP says

WFP deputy country director Marcus Prior said Uganda stands as a beacon of hope in Africa, hosting the continent’s largest refugee population.

“Yet, despite Uganda’s progressive refugee policies, many still lack access to sustainable livelihoods and remain reliant on humanitarian assistance,” he said.

He noted that at least 150,000 new refugees have arrived in Uganda since the beginning of last year.

“At WFP, we are committed to working together with the UK to deliver emergency cash assistance while fostering self-reliance. Together, we aim to empower refugees to thrive and contribute alongside their host communities,” Prior said.

He lauded the Ugandan government and all development partners for their unwavering commitment to saving and changing lives.

“At WFP, we pledge to remain steadfast in our collaboration with Uganda to achieve zero hunger and ensure a brighter, more resilient future for all,” he added.