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The largest refugee-hosting country in Africa

Uganda is experiencing both protracted and ongoing refugee situations. Uganda is currently hosting over 1,532,168 refugees, the largest refugee population in Africa and third largest worldwide. The refugees are South Sudanese at 56.6% (867,391), Congolese at 31.8% (487,044), Somali 4.6% (70,020), Burundian 2.7% (41,235), Eritreans 2.1% (31,424) Rwandan 1.5% (23,299), and others 0.8% (11,755). 85% of Uganda’s refugees are women and children (Access the latest statistics here).

The Government provides for freedom of movement and allocation of land for shelter and for agricultural use to refugees settling in designated areas. About 95% of refugees live in settlements alongside host communities, areas which are the poorest and most underdeveloped in the country.

However, host communities are burdened by the presence of the large refugee population and face their own economic, environmental and development challenges that continue to require support. Equitable attention to the needs of both communities is essential to sustaining peaceful co-existence and to mitigate shocks to the existing basic service systems.

The PROSPECTS Partnership is targeting three districts representing different socio-economic contexts: Nakivale refugee settlement (Isingiro district in the South) a 60-year old refugee hosting area with the most diverse refugee population (ethnicities and nationalities), Imvepi and Rhino Camp settlements (in Madi Okollo and Terego districts in the West Nile) hosts South Sudanese refugees and is close to the borders of South Sudan and the DRC. Each of the three locations is expected to deliver different learning outcomes given their unique contexts.

The confidence in this new Partnership approach is rooted in the pre-existing and ongoing systematic exchange of information, experience-sharing and strong coordination amongst the five PROSPECTS partners, and through the well-developed coordination platforms under the umbrella of the government-led CRRF in Uganda.

What's new

Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS) improves income of refugees and host communities in Uganda

Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS) improves income of refugees and host communities in Uganda

Graduation ceremony of ILO PROSPECTS hotel management apprenticeship programme in Uganda

Graduation ceremony of ILO PROSPECTS hotel management apprenticeship programme in Uganda

Unlocking Potential #3: ILO's apprenticeship programme in Uganda - Story of Gad

Unlocking Potential #3: ILO's apprenticeship programme in Uganda - Story of Gad

Unlocking Potential #2: ILO's apprenticeship programme in Uganda - Story of Fatuma

Unlocking Potential #2: ILO's apprenticeship programme in Uganda - Story of Fatuma

Harmonizing Lives: ILO promotes Social Cohesion among Refugees and Hosts in Uganda

Harmonizing Lives: ILO promotes Social Cohesion among Refugees and Hosts in Uganda

Unlocking Potential: ILO PROSPECTS' apprenticeship programme in Uganda - Story of Benjamin

Video

Unlocking Potential: ILO PROSPECTS' apprenticeship programme in Uganda - Story of Benjamin

Labour Day 2023 -Work is for all human beings

Video

Labour Day 2023 -Work is for all human beings

Innovation pitches from youth mentors

Video

Innovation pitches from youth mentors

ILO’s timely interventions assist small businesses in Uganda

News

ILO’s timely interventions assist small businesses in Uganda

Gaining momentum – impact of ILO PROSPECTS activities in Uganda

Video

Gaining momentum – impact of ILO PROSPECTS activities in Uganda

WorldSkills Africa underlined the importance of skills development for refugees

News 

WorldSkills Africa underlined the importance of skills development for refugees

Women entrepreneurs join hands for better recovery post COVID-19

News

Women entrepreneurs join hands for better recovery post COVID-19

Community centres to bring new skills and employment opportunities for refugee and host communities in Uganda

News

Community centres to bring new skills and employment opportunities for refugee and host communities in Uganda

PROSPECTS Uganda: Dutch envoy inspired by refugees in Nakivale Settlement

News

PROSPECTS Uganda: Dutch envoy inspired by refugees in Nakivale Settlement

The ILO holds a virtual validation workshop to discuss the report on informality in refugee settlements and host communities in Nakivale...

News

The ILO holds a virtual validation workshop to discuss the report on informality in refugee settlements and host communities in Nakivale...

The ILO launches recovery grants for refugee and host community-owned businesses

News

The ILO launches recovery grants for refugee and host community-owned businesses

Country Vision Note for Uganda

Document

Country Vision Note for Uganda

Our constituents

Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development

Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development

Federation of Uganda Employers

Federation of Uganda Employers

National Organization of Trade Union

National Organization of Trade Union

Uganda in focus

ILO Country office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

Country Office

ILO Country office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

Uganda Comprehensive Refugee Response Portal

UNHCR Data portal

Uganda Comprehensive Refugee Response Portal

Uganda - Global Focus Page

UNHCR

Uganda - Global Focus Page

Resources

Review of national policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks, and practice in Uganda

Review of national policy, legislative and regulatory frameworks, and practice in Uganda

PROSPECTS in Uganda - at a glance

Uganda factsheet

PROSPECTS in Uganda - at a glance

Paving the way for better jobs and improving livelihoods for refugees 
and host communities in Arua, Uganda

AIMS assessment

Paving the way for better jobs and improving livelihoods for refugees 
and host communities in Arua, Uganda

Informing the Refugee Policy Response in Uganda : Results from the Uganda Refugee and Host Communities 2018 Household Survey

World Bank and Bureau of Statistics

Informing the Refugee Policy Response in Uganda : Results from the Uganda Refugee and Host Communities 2018 Household Survey

Multimedia

BBC Documentary "The African country that welcomes refugees"

Documentary

BBC Documentary "The African country that welcomes refugees"

Integrated market systems assessment in Arua and Isingiro

Photo Gallery

Integrated market systems assessment in Arua and Isingiro

Get in touch

ILO Uganda Office
Plot 25/26, Katalima Crescent, Naguru
Kampala, Uganda
Tel : (+256) 414 251053
Visit their website
PROSPECTS in Uganda Stephen Opio
Chief Technical Advisor
[email protected]
Twitter: @IbenyaOpio

Grace Rwomushana
Enterprise Development
[email protected]
Twitter: @gracerwomushana Pheona Namuyaba
Skills and employability
[email protected]
Twitter: @namuyaba15

Phillo Aryatwijuka (Ms)
Employment Intensive Investment Programme-EIIP
[email protected]
Twitter: @Aryatwijukaphil

Melissa Kyeyune
Digital Skills and Micro-Work
[email protected]
Twitter: @kyeyune_melissa

Bethelhem Tesfaye Kassa
Junior Professional Officer
[email protected]
Twitter: @BethelhemKassa

Sunday Richard Ale
Monitoring and Evaluation
[email protected]
Twitter: @sunrichale

Namutebi Bernah Namatovu
Youth Participation and Communication
[email protected]
Twitter: @behenicole