Imagine this: Your neighbor’s house catches fire in the middle of the night.
Without hesitation, you open your door, offering shelter and comfort. You may not have much to share, but you provide what little you have because it’s the right thing to do.
This simple act of kindness is what has been happening in Uganda for decades, but on a much larger scale. Uganda has long been a beacon of hope for those fleeing conflict and persecution, with host communities playing a pivotal role in welcoming refugees.
Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, often lauded globally, gives refugees the right to work, access education, and move freely. Complementing this policy is the vital role of host communities, whose generosity and resilience are the backbone of Uganda’s refugee response.
Across districts like Adjumani, Obongi, Lamwo, Kikuube, and Kiryandongo, among others, host communities do more than just offer hospitality. They have opened their homes to refugees from South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond.
What truly supports refugees’ reintegration into these new societies is the willingness of host communities to live side by side with them. Host communities often share limited resources such as water, arable land, healthcare facilities, schools, etc., sometimes to the point of strain.
When refugees arrive in Uganda, families are typically allocated 30-by-30-meter plots of land to construct their shelter. In addition, host communities extend land for farming, allowing refugees to engage in agriculture at both individual and community levels.
This system provides refugees with a place to call home and ensures they can cultivate food for their families, contributing to self-reliance and a sense of stability after the trauma of displacement.
The generosity of host communities in providing land has transformed refugee settlements into more than just temporary shelters; they have become hubs of productivity and growth.
Although in most cases this generosity comes at a cost, they continue to share, motivated by an intrinsic understanding of humanity and solidarity. Host communities offer more than just resources; they provide the social fabric necessary for peaceful coexistence, ensuring that refugee settlements are not just places of survival but of dignity and recovery
In our work at the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), we witness these acts of generosity daily. Our approach recognizes that a sustainable refugee response must benefit both the refugees and the host communities.
For every borehole drilled, livelihood intervention, or health facility supported, we make sure that host communities are equally benefiting. This model of shared support strengthens the bonds between hosts and refugees, creating an environment where both can thrive.
Uganda’s refugee response policy is admirable and, therefore, it is essential that host communities receive adequate support to continue playing this vital role. Their role is critical to maintaining peace and stability in refugee-hosting areas.
As Uganda continues to welcome refugees, host communities must remain at the heart of any refugee response, ensuring that both populations can build better futures together. In this way, Uganda’s story of a good neighbour becomes a model for the world, reminding us all of the power of compassion and shared responsibility in times of crisis.
The author is a technical lead communication, The Lutheran World Federation