Uganda Seeks Urgent European Union Aid to Address Critical Refugee Funding Shortfall
Kampala, 21 September 2026
Facing an 88% funding deficit for over two million refugees, Uganda has warned the EU that ignoring this crisis risks driving vulnerable people toward regional extremist groups.
A Strained Humanitarian Model Under Fiscal Pressure
On 21 September 2026, the Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, met with a European Union delegation in Kampala, including EU representatives Ms Tineke Strik and Ms Anna Strolenberg, to formally request urgent financial support [1]. As of 20 September 2026, Uganda hosts more than 2 million refugees and asylum-seekers, primarily fleeing conflict in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it the largest refugee-hosting nation in Africa [1]. However, the country’s progressive refugee response plan is facing severe financial distress; while the comprehensive response requires approximately $850 million (about Shs 3.3 trillion), international donors have delivered a mere 12 per cent of this target, leaving an 88 per cent budget deficit [1]. In absolute terms, this leaves Uganda with only 102 million USD in secured funding, facing a massive shortfall of 748 million USD [1].
Direct Impact on Local Services and Communities
The immediate consequences of this funding gap are being felt on the ground, directly affecting both the displaced populations and the local communities that host them. The dramatic shortfall has forced a critical downscaling of donor-supported professional staff, including essential teachers and healthcare workers who were previously funded by international partners [1]. This reduction has placed an unsustainable strain on basic public services and has severely compromised the operational capacity of the Office of the Prime Minister’s Department of Refugees, which oversees local integration and support services [1].
Declining International Aid and Emerging Security Risks
The financial strain is exacerbated by a downward trend in direct humanitarian allocations from major global partners. For instance, the European Union’s humanitarian assistance to Uganda decreased from €23.9 million in 2025 to an allocated €20.7 million for 2026 [1], representing a reduction of -13.389 per cent. This funding is critical as it directly targets emergency cash assistance, protection, food security, education, and disaster preparedness [1]. Deputy Speaker Tayebwa warned that the current funding structure is no longer adequate to sustain the situation, cautioning that if Uganda cannot help displaced persons settle, vulnerable individuals could face exploitation, human trafficking, or recruitment by regional extremist networks such as Al-Shabaab, while others may be forced to undertake dangerous migration journeys to Europe [1].
A Call for Geopolitical Resolution and Sustainable Aid
In his appeal to the EU delegation, Tayebwa urged international partners to shift their focus towards resolving the root geopolitical conflicts driving displacement, rather than relying solely on temporary emergency relief [1]. He emphasised the need for predictable, long-term assistance, pointing out that prominent global crises, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, must not be allowed to overshadow the urgent humanitarian needs of the African continent [1]. In response, EU Representative Tineke Strik commended Uganda’s progressive policies, stating that European nations could learn valuable lessons from the country’s hospitality, and agreed that international partners must not leave Uganda to manage the refugee crisis in isolation [1].