The United Nations says it could soon be forced to scale back critical aid for nearly two million refugees in Uganda — unless emergency funds arrive within weeks.
In a statement Monday, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said its resources will run out next month, threatening support for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and unrest across the region — including from Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Emergency funding runs out in September,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s Director for External Relations. “More children will die of malnutrition, more girls will fall victim to sexual violence, and families will be left without shelter or protection unless the world steps up.”
Since the start of 2025, more than 600 people a day have crossed into Uganda, according to UNHCR estimates. That number is expected to reach two million by the end of the year.
Already the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa — and the third largest globally — Uganda currently hosts about 1.93 million refugees. Over half are children. Among them, more than 48,000 have arrived alone.
Yet UNHCR says it’s now facing one of the worst funding shortfalls in decades, driven in part by foreign aid cuts from donor countries, including the United States.
Without a fresh injection of support, the agency says it will be forced to slash cash assistance for Sudanese refugees — from $16 a month to just $5.
Food, water, and medicine are also in short supply. Malnutrition rates are climbing. The number of mental health workers has dropped, UNHCR warned, and so has the support network for young refugees struggling with trauma. Reports of suicide are rising.
“War disrupts lives without warning, forcing people to leave everything behind,” Hyde said. “Many refugees face growing desperation; no resilience can replace what’s been lost.”
She praised Uganda’s continued hospitality but said the burden of care shouldn’t fall solely on countries far from the fighting.
“Responsibility lies with those driving and enabling the violence,” she said. “Peace is the only lasting answer. Until it comes, refugees’ dignity must be protected.”
The response in Uganda is only 25 percent funded so far this year.
UNHCR is appealing for more sustained international support — including from development partners — to ensure that refugees and the communities hosting them aren’t left to face the crisis alone.
