Uganda

Uganda continues to uphold its progressive refugee policy, maintaining an open-door approach to asylum. In 2024, the country saw a significant increase in refugee arrivals, particularly from Sudan following the intensification of the conflict, with over 65,500 Sudanese seeking refuge by year’s end. Uganda granted them prima facie refugee status as of November 2023. The country also continued to receive new arrivals from South Sudan, due to ongoing intercommunal violence and deteriorating socio-economic conditions, and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where conflict in the east persisted.

By the end of 2024, Uganda was hosting approximately 1.8 million refugees and asylum-seekers – the largest refugee population in Africa – reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year. The majority were from South Sudan (57%) and DRC (31%), with smaller populations from Somalia, Burundi, Eritrea, Rwanda, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Women and children made up 80% of the refugee population.

Uganda’s refugee settlements are located in areas highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including extreme heat and seasonal flooding. These conditions have affected agricultural livelihoods and placed growing pressure on natural resources, occasionally fuelling tensions between refugee and host communities. In response, UNHCR is implementing strategies for climate resilience and environmental sustainability, while continuing to provide protection and support services in partnership with the Government of Uganda and humanitarian and development actors.