By: Ismael Kasooha  

KYEGEGWA

The reduction of food rations to Refugees is causing unprecedented conflicts in communities that are hosting Refugees in the Country.

“In Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, the food rations for the Refugees was reduced which has caused many conflicts between the Host Communities and the Refugees themselves. People are killing one another over food, theft cases are on the increase, fighting for the little food in the community that has caused restlessness in the Settlement Camp and the Community,” said Tom Bright, the Kyaka Central Constituency Member of Parliament in Kyegegwa District.

The Premier Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah being received by leaders of Kyegegwa District for the belated Women’s Day celebrations

Bright said that the community hosting the Refugees are experiencing many acts of evil that he couldn’t mention in public.

“I appeal to you Rt. Hon. Prime Minister to send your team on ground to investigate the incidents so that the situation does not degenerate into chaos,” said Bright.

Despite significant successes, funding cuts have had far-reaching consequences beyond immediate hunger among the Refugees and the Host Communities.

The sharp increase in Refugee arrivals – particularly from the DRC, South Sudan and Sudan – with over 90,000 refugees arriving in Uganda by April 2025 alone, has worsened malnutrition, with Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates spiking as high as 21.5% among newly arriving refugees—a critical situation requiring urgent and continued nutrition support, according to UNICEF.

As of April 2025, Uganda hosts over 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from the DRC, Sudan, and South Sudan. Despite the increase in numbers, only 9 per cent of the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan (UCRRP) for Quarter 1 of 2025 has been funded — a 26% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. This severe underfunding has left critical gaps, particularly in Protection (68 per cent decrease) and Health and Nutrition (61 per cent decrease), impacting the ability of WFP, UNHCR, and UNICEF to meet urgent needs.

The Premier (with yellow sash) interacting with women during the belated Women’s Day celebrations in Kyegegwa District

Nabbanja assured the people of Kyegegwa that she would meet the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Country Representative in Uganda to discuss how to address the raised challenges.

“I will convene a meeting immediately to discuss the issue with the stakeholders to find ways of addressing the challenges raised by the Host Community,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja, while presiding over the belated Women’s Day celebrations for Kyegegwa District, appealed to parents to ensure that their school going children attend school and complete the education cycle.

Jackson Kafuuzi, the Deputy Attorney General who is also the Kyaka South Member of Parliament lauded the NRM Government for the emancipation of women in the Country.

The Kyegegwa Women’s Day celebrations were organized by Kafuuzi unlike in other districts where it is a reserve of the Woman Representatives in Parliament.

End