Uganda is facing an escalating humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of refugees pour across its western border, fleeing renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In response, the United Nations has stepped in with a critical lifeline—releasing US$2.5 million in emergency funding to help overwhelmed refugee reception centers provide life-saving support. The funding, drawn from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will enable three key UN agencies—UNHCR, UN World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF—to scale up emergency services, including food, clean water, medical care and child protection, during the critical first weeks after refugees arrive.
The support comes as Uganda, already Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country, grapples with a surge of more than 65,000 Congolese refugees between January and May 2025 alone. The country’s total refugee population is now approaching 1.9 million, pushing its once-praised reception system to the brink.
“We are grateful for this timely and urgently needed contribution from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund,” said Leonard Zulu, UN resident coordinator in Uganda.
“It comes at a moment when our capacities are severely stretched and will be a step in the right direction to help us provide urgent support to the thousands of people arriving in search of international protection and assistance.”
Zulu added that partnerships like this are vital to sustaining Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, which allows for freedom of movement, the right to work, and access to public services. At transit centers like Kabazana, Nyakabande and Matanda, the strain is visible. Designed to host only a fraction of their current population, these facilities are operating far beyond their intended capacities.
“This CERF allocation will enable us to provide immediate and essential services—clean water, health care and protection—at reception centers operating far beyond capacity,” said Matthew Crentsil, UNHCR representative in Uganda.
“Timely and targeted support like this is critical to sustaining a coordinated emergency response.”
For many refugees, the journey to Uganda is harrowing. Families arrive exhausted, hungry and in poor health— many having fled active conflict zones on foot or by boat, carrying little more than the clothes on their backs. WFP country director Marcus Prior warned that food insecurity among new arrivals is reaching a tipping point.
“This CERF funding is a lifeline—it helps us prevent a full-blown food crisis within an already dire humanitarian emergency,” Prior said.
“It enables us to deliver immediate food and nutrition support when refugees need it most— right at the point of arrival.” Children, in particular, are arriving in heartbreaking condition.
According to UNICEF, malnutrition and preventable diseases are rampant among new arrivals, exacerbated by lack of shelter, clean water and medical services. “We are seeing children arrive in extremely weakened states, many suffering from malaria and severe malnutrition,” said Robin Nandy, UNICEF representative in Uganda.
“This funding will allow us to scale up emergency nutrition services by continuing to screen and treat malnourished children and provide life-saving health interventions for those most in need.”
The government of Uganda has welcomed the emergency funds, noting that the timing could not be more crucial as donor fatigue and competing global crises have strained humanitarian support for one of the world’s largest refugee populations.
While the $2.5 million injection will help stabilize the immediate crisis, humanitarian agencies caution that more funding will be needed to sustain operations in the coming months.
Uganda’s refugee policy has long been hailed as a model of compassion and inclusivity. But as the human tide from across its borders continues to rise, it now faces a critical question: can it continue to deliver dignity and care without broader, sustained international support?
UN just ensures inhuman wars go on & get free money from it, instead of ensuring Good Governance in all member states!
Uganda, USA, UK, EU have become so powerless as UN fills their lands with refugees/migrants, thus ensure dictatorship, wars… as the people who should be in place to ensure change & good governance leave their inhumanly governed countries!
Ah! USA, UK, EU, Uganda are in total mess with migration, but UN is so so happy getting money for migrants/refugees, thus ensures dictatorship, bad rule!
Why are developed well governed countries still members of UN bent on destroying them with migration, thus ensure no change & good governance for all?
Ugandans still want Rwandese Museveni, but USA, UK, EU MUST stop migration to their lands as nothing is done by UN to ensure Good Governance in all member states & migrants know their only hope is migrating to Rwandese Museveni’s Uganda, USA, UK, EU!
Why are USA, UK, EU still members of defunct UN ensuring inhuman rule in shitholes, while these developed well governed lands are suffocating with unending migration & their Public/Social Services are overwhelmed, taxes going up?
Tribally divided ruled Ugandans are slaves of Rwandese Museveni, but UN ignores their miseries & made Uganda paradise for migrants, refugees!