Uganda

East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes

Uganda

Uganda is hosting over 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers. New arrivals have continued to enter the country, mainly from the DRC, Sudan, and South Sudan.

Sudan emergency details

Democratic Republic of Congo emergency

Latest funding update

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Uganda. Sudan Situation in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

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Key statistics

1.8 million

people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024

1.7 million

people were registered as refugees in the country at the end of 2024, mostly from Sudan and the DR Congo

$361 million

are needed in 2025 to ensure that operations and programmes in Uganda are sustained

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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.