The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that before the end of this year, Uganda could host more than 2 million refugees coming from countries including Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This comes as hundreds of people continue to cross borders daily seeking refuge and assistance in Uganda due to worsening crises in neighboring countries.
Hamida Ibrahim Amin, one of the refugees from Sudan, told Africanews: “We were living in Khartoum, but we moved to Darfur because of the war. I am here with my daughters, my husband died. We have been here for three months, we have nothing, no money, the children are not going to school and they have started getting sick. Life here is very difficult here.”
Since the beginning of 2025, about 600 people per day have been entering Uganda, and it is projected that this number will reach 2 million before the end of the year.
Uganda, which already hosts the highest number of refugees in Africa and ranks third globally, is currently home to over 1.93 million refugees, more than one million of whom are under 18 years old.
The UNHCR reports that it is facing a serious shortfall in funding and resources, worse than any time in recent years.
They state that both food and medicine have been drastically reduced, causing a concerning rise in malnutrition, particularly among young children.
Although Uganda’s progressive refugee policies allow refugees to settle, work, and access public services, the ongoing decline in resources may reverse the progress made in recent years.
Currently, refugees are receiving only one-third of the basic necessities they need each year.
RADIOTV10