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UN Warns: Refugee Funding in Uganda to Run Out Next Month

UN Warns: Refugee Funding in Uganda to Run Out Next Month

Published: August 2025 · ENS | Global Affairs

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has issued a stark warning: emergency funding for refugees in Uganda is expected to run out by September 2025 unless urgent financial support arrives.

Uganda is currently hosting approximately 1.93 million refugees, over half of whom are children, with around 600 new arrivals each day. By the end of the year, this number could reach 2 million — making Uganda the largest refugee host in Africa and the third largest globally.[1]

UNHCR officials warn that without new funds, monthly aid per refugee will be slashed from $16 to $5. This drastic reduction will directly impact access to food, health care, clean water, mental support, and protection — potentially leading to rising malnutrition, sexual violence, and homelessness.[2]

  • Funding Gap: Only one-third of estimated costs for Sudanese refugees can currently be met.
  • Service Cuts Likely: A massive decline in critical aid — including food, medical services, and shelter — looms without donor support.

UNHCR’s Director for External Relations, Dominique Hyde, emphasized that while Uganda's open-door policy has been exemplary, it cannot endure without international solidarity.[3]

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