Uganda remains the largest refugee hosting country in Sub-Saharan Africa with more than 1.5 million refugees and asylum-seekers. The Uganda government in partnership with UNHCR continue to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees and support efforts towards a comprehensive refugee response.

On 11 November 2023, the UNHCR Country Representative in Uganda, Mr Mattew Crentsil together with Mrs. Mary Namono Kibere, Head of Humanitarian Division/Rapporteur of the UNHCR EXCOM 2023-2024 at the Uganda Mission in Geneva, organised a Mission to visit the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, one of the oldest settlements in Africa.

The purpose of the mission was to get firsthand experience on the plight of refugees in Uganda as they interact with new arrivals, and also to take note of the subsequent integration challenges faced over time. The team visited health facilities within the settlement and thereafter to Rubondo secondary school where they interacted with students comprised of refugees and host communities. They also planted trees at school in support of environmental preservation measures.

It was evident during the Mission that despite the continuous open-door policy and generosity of the government of Uganda, funding required to address the growing pressing needs especially for children, girls and women to access basic medical services and sanitary wear is still lacking and continues to pose an enormous challenge.