Uganda’s population of now 52 million is among the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world. Uganda’s high birth rate of 5.8 children per woman is a problem.

This rapid population growth is already straining the availability of arable land, natural resources, food supply, employment, education, health care and housing situation as well as access to basic services already. This is further increased by the high numbers of incoming refugees, which starts to result in strong criticism by the local population.

The neighbouring states are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania.

The East African country is strongly influenced by the political instability in several bordering states, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. As well refugees from Somalia frequently arrive.

In December 2015, Uganda hosted over 510,973 refugees and asylum seekers, which made it Africa’s third-largest refugee-hosting country after Ethiopia and Kenya. In August 2017, a sad historic landmark was met when the number of South Sudanese refugees who had crossed the border to Uganda rose to one million.

Uganda is often mentioned as a role model for its refugee policies. It is still praised to be one of the most welcoming countries towards refugees in Africa.

The lessons learned from its own violent history may have led to the welcoming attitude towards refugees and asylum seekers. Another explanation might be found in the colonial past. As borders were drawn without regard to ethnic and cultural ties, many refugees share a common cultural, ethnic and sometimes even family background with the Ugandan population. This makes integration significantly easier and increases acceptance by the local population.

But in general, the Ugandan government is strongly underfunded, and their resources are exhausted. To name just two examples: in 2016, the humanitarian community requested $ 193 million to deal with the refugee situation of South Sudanese people in Uganda. However, only 51.4 percent of funds requested were actually provided. Second, $ 21.9 million was needed to deal with the situation of Burundi refugees in Uganda. Even worse, this financial need was only met by 40.6 percent.

As the Ugandan government is aware that the refugee situation is unlikely to change in the near future, Uganda engages in long-term humanitarian planning.

This allows Uganda to get on with projects, while at the same time refugees are not stuck in limbo.

Uganda’s forward-oriented refugee policies should gain attention as best practice in Africa.

Key features:

Open-door policy for most asylum seekers (especially from conflict zones) with freedom of movement  and no closed camps.

Refugees have the right to work, own property and may establish their own business, while also enjoying the right to freedom of movement. This strongly increases the chances of integration and significantly decreases aid dependency.

Once refugee status has been achieved, all refugees are given a small area of their own land. Refugees can farm and build homes. This land is integrated within rural communities, making integration within the local host community significantly easier.

Access to national public services (health, education).

Integration with host communities rather than parallel aid systems.

Inclusion of refugees in national and district development plans.

Why it works / best practices reasons:

Promotes self-reliance instead of long-term dependency on aid.

Allows refugees to contribute economically (agriculture, small businesses, labor).

Reduces social tensions by sharing services and benefits with host communities.

More sustainable and cost-effective over time than pure encampment models.

Aligns with the Global Compact on Refugees and Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF).

Access to basic services offered by the state is equal for both Ugandans and refugees.

To increase the pace of administration and integration, Congolese and South Sudanese refugees were receiving prima facie status, the immediate recognition by the state as a refugee on the basis of apparent and objective circumstances in the country of origin. This group determination significantly speeds up the process of administration.

Consequently, the humanitarian response has changed from short- term to long-term planning, making the situation significantly easier for the donor community, the refugee community, as well as the host community.

This highly increases the chances of integration.

In addition, Uganda realised that refugees can have a positive effect on the economy of the host country as well.

For example, trade between refugees and natives has created new workplaces for Ugandans. It was also found that although many refugees do receive humanitarian assistance, most are more dependent on other social relationships. They aspire to receive other forms of support and, in many cases, create sustainable livelihood opportunities for themselves.

Changes in 2025

In 2025 Uganda hosted nearly two  million refugees and asylum seekers — the largest number in Africa.

Late 2025 Uganda stopped granting refugee status to new arrivals from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea.

New arrivals from these nationalities are no longer being registered as refugees. This marked a clear shift from Uganda’s previous open approach.

The government said these countries are “not experiencing war.” (Refugee Minister Hillary Onek).

But existing refugees from these countries keep their status.

Uganda continued open-door policy for major

refugee groups. Uganda still maintains its

traditional progressive model for refugees mainly

from: South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo

(DRC) and Sudan.

Refugees are generally allowed to live in settlements (not closed camps), move freely, work, access public services (health, education), even receive plots of land in many cases.

Severe funding crisis and reduced assistance.

Donor funding has dropped sharply (including cuts linked to USAID). As a result: Many refugees now receive little or no food assistance. A needs-based targeting system was introduced earlier, and by mid-2025 large numbers of refugees were cut off from aid entirely. This strain is putting pressure on Uganda’s open model.

Uganda signed an Asylum Cooperative Agreement with the United States (mid-2025) under which the US can send certain asylum seekers to Uganda.

The government has at times suspended or adjusted prima facie (automatic group) refugee status determination to review records.

A new National Migration Policy was finalized in 2025.

At the same time, the political situation is unlikely to stabilize in the near future and further destabilization is likely to be expected.