Uganda hosts 2 million refugees across 13 settlements, the largest refugee population in Africa.
Severe funding shortages and international aid cuts have pushed the nation's progressive refugee programs into a deep crisis.
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The UNHCR secured only 12% of the $850 million required for its Uganda operations this year.
This financial deficit severely impacts overcrowding camps like Kiryandongo, which holds over 167,000 residents and welcomes new arrivals daily due to conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan.
Food Rations and Malnutrition
The World Food Programme drastically reduced its food rations, supporting only 663,000 refugees this year compared to 1.6 million in early 2025.
Acute malnutrition among children under five surged by nearly 50% within a single year.
The International Rescue Committee stated that extreme budget drops have brought the local healthcare system to the brink of failure.
The IRC health budget in Uganda plummeted from approximately $18 million in 2025 to just $4 million in January, forcing the closure of clinics across 11 settlements and the layoff of 80% of its workforce.
"Two million lives are at stake here.
Without a response, I worry the refugee health systems will collapse," says Elijah Okeyo, the IRC’s country director.
"We risk reversing all the work that has gone into the humanitarian health system."
Following the December closure of two IRC-supported clinics in Kiryandongo, refugees must travel much further to find functional medical care, where they frequently face severe medicine shortages.
