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Uganda

Country Overview

Country Overview
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Uganda is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with two million refugees and asylum seekers as of April 2026, most of which living in settlements across the North and Southwest of the country. Refugees face protracted humanitarian needs and are most often dependent on humanitarian aid or other non-self-generated sources of income to provide for themselves and their families. They are also particularly affected by the increasing frequency and scale of climate related hazard such as floods, droughts, and landslide damaging infrastructure and disrupting livelihoods. Despite the persistent humanitarian needs among an ever-increasing caseload of refugees, funding to the response has consistently decreased over the years with a sharp decrease from early 2025. Funding cuts have deeply affected refugees’ access to assistance and services with severe effects on food assistance and access to WASH and health services.  

IMPACT has worked in Uganda since 2017 through its REACH Initiative, supporting humanitarian and development actors with evidence generation and coordination support to guide strategic planning. In 2026, REACH continues to support the response by contributing analysis and data to the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan and inform its localisation and transition objectives through multisectoral needs assessments in refugee-hosting locations.

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Research highlights

Mapping Climate Risk Across Uganda’s Refugee-Hosting Districts
April 2026

Uganda is facing increasingly unpredictable climate hazards, including floods and prolonged droughts. With significant impacts on shelters, agricultural productivity, and infrastructure, these climate risks are particularly acute in refugee-hosting sub-counties, where land, water, and services are already constrained.

Read Northern/West Nile and Southwestern regions analyses

What is the Acute Needs Analysis (ANA)?
July – September 2025

The ANA is a humanitarian research pilot project designed to identify populations facing urgent, life-threatening needs.

It seeks to bring these populations to the attention of humanitarian decision-makers—especially in contexts where information is scarce or fragmented.

All analysis is conducted by dedicated, country‑based analysts with deep contextual expertise, ensuring robust support for humanitarian prioritization across and within crises.

Read full analysis

Related News

Mapping Climate Hazards Across Uganda’s Refugee-Hosting Districts

Country news, General / 29 April 2026

Mapping Climate Hazards Across Uganda’s Refugee-Hosting Districts

In recent years, Uganda, which hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, has faced increasing exposure to climate hazards, including heavy rains and prolonged dry spells. The unpredictability and variability of these hazards...

Uganda | Critical Findings on Movement, Livelihoods, and Access to Basic Services for Refugees and Host communities in Adjumani

Country news / 27 August 2024

Uganda | Critical Findings on Movement, Livelihoods, and Access to Basic Services for Refugees and Host communities in Adjumani

The latest Movement, Livelihood, and Access to Basic Services assessment for Adjumani Town, Uganda, conducted by IMPACT via its initiative REACH, presents a nuanced picture of both progress and persistent...

Uganda | Key Insights: Urban Refugees in Mbarara

Country news / 5 August 2024

Uganda | Key Insights: Urban Refugees in Mbarara

The latest Area-Based Assessment (ABA) by IMPACT Initiatives through its initiative REACH in Mbarara, Uganda, provides a detailed overview of the living conditions and challenges faced by both refugee and...

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