news 13 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Minister Urges Refugees Home Amidst Dwindling Aid
Uganda's Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Sam Engola, is appealing to refugees to return to their home countries due to a significant shortfall in humanitarian funding. The country is currently hosting over two million refugees but is operating at less than 50% of its required budget. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/minister-engola-urges-refugees-to-return-home-as-aid-dwindles-5556966
Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Sam Engola, has made an urgent appeal for refugees hosted in Uganda to consider voluntary repatriation. This call comes as the nation grapples with a severe decline in humanitarian funding, impacting its ability to support the growing refugee population.
Minister Engola highlighted that Uganda is currently hosting over two million refugees, a number that continues to rise annually. However, the country’s operational budget for refugee assistance is less than 50 percent of what is needed, creating significant challenges.
“The way forward is for refugees to go back to their homes, simple,” Minister Engola stated, citing the example of over 17,000 Burundian refugees who have voluntarily returned. He explained that the lack of consistent funding from donor nations, many of whom rely on government support like that from the American government, makes it difficult to plan and sustain operations.
Conflicts, political instability, and climate crises remain the primary drivers forcing people to seek refuge in Uganda, placing immense pressure on public services, infrastructure, and host communities. The minister emphasized the need for a long-term approach to development and peacebuilding to support sustainable returns.
Recent reports indicate that a substantial number of refugees are facing critical issues such as food shortages, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to livelihood opportunities. This situation is exacerbated by reduced aid, with the World Food Programme (WFP) having cut monthly rations per refugee to an insufficient USD 3 (approximately Shs 11,000), leading to many being completely weaned off food aid.
Officials have noted a sharp decrease in funding over the years, despite the increasing number of refugees. For instance, in 2015, when Uganda hosted 500,000 refugees, funding stood at USD 490 million. By 2026, with over two million refugees, anticipated funding has plummeted to an estimated USD 165 million.
In response to these challenges, international partners like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are launching new initiatives to support livelihood development and address funding gaps. A regional workshop also brought together officials from several East African countries to share experiences on sustainable refugee return and coexistence.