Contribution in support of people of concern to UNHCR in Syrian Arab Republic, Niger, Mali and Uganda

Uganda is the sixth largest refugee-hosting country globally and the largest in Africa. Protracted conflict, political instability and economic decline in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to be the main drivers of forced displacement and the flow of refugees into Uganda. The Government of Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UNHCR and humanitarian partners continue to respond to refugee influxes and provide protection, care and assistance to the 1,499,5621 refugee and asylum-seekers registered in Uganda from South Sudan (924,835), DRC (433,062), Burundi (51,039), Somalia (47,581), Rwanda (17,770) and other countries (25,275). Ninety four percent (94%) of refugees live in settlements alongside Ugandan host communities, and the remaining six (6%) percent are registered as urban refugees living outside the refugee settlements, mainly in Kampala. The Government of Uganda provides substantial protection for refugees through the 2006 Refugee Act and the 2010 Refugee Regulations, which allow refugees freedom of movement and access to national services including water and healthcare. Uganda’s borders have been officially closed for asylum since March 2020 as a measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Government of Uganda has, however, continued to apply exceptions and allow people in need of protection and lifesaving assistance to enter the country. Refugees are included in access to water and health services in line with the Government of Uganda’s Water and Environment Sector Response Plan (WESRP) and Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan (HSIRRP) under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework co-led by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Contribute to the protection response for refugees

The project will contribute to refugee inclusion in access to basic services under the Government-led Water and Health sector response plans for refugees and host communities.