In a dramatic policy reversal, the Ugandan government has announced it will stop granting asylum and refugee status to new arrivals from Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The decision, attributed to a severe shortfall in international aid, marks a significant departure for a nation long hailed for its progressive approach to migration.
A Dire Financial Reality Forces Policy Shift
Hillary Onek, Uganda's Minister for Refugees, confirmed the move, stating he had instructed officers to cease granting status to citizens from countries "not experiencing war." He directly linked the decision to a catastrophic drop in funding from the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.
"Uganda used to get $240m per year from UNHCR, but with an increased refugee population of almost 2 million people, we now get less than $100m," Onek revealed. He added that this year, the country had received a mere $18m (£14m), a fraction of what is required.
The minister made the announcement during the handover of a $2.9m rice donation from South Korea to the UN World Food Programme in Gulu. This aid will support about 600,000 refugees but underscores the gap between needs and available resources.
Thousands Left in Legal and Humanitarian Limbo
Uganda hosts nearly 2 million refugees and asylum seekers – the largest number in Africa. This includes over 56,000 Eritreans, nearly 50,000 Somalis, and about 16,000 Ethiopians, many fleeing conscription, persecution, and climate-related crises.
The new directive leaves future arrivals from these nations in peril. An Eritrean refugee official in Kampala, speaking anonymously, warned: "It's a very dangerous move that puts at risk the lives of hundreds of people."
Abdullahi Halakhe of Refugees International said those affected face an impossible situation: "They cannot go back to their home country; they cannot have third-country resettlement; and they cannot be integrated... They're left in a limbo."
A Global Retreat from Refugee Protection
Analysts point to broader international aid cuts as a root cause. Reductions in US and UK aid spending have severely impacted Uganda's capacity. The country's 2025 refugee response plan, budgeted at $968m, is only 25% funded, threatening essential services.
This shift represents a stark change for Uganda, where refugees have historically been allowed to work and access public services. Halakhe called it "a massive step backwards" from years of leadership on progressive refugee policy.
The funding crisis has already forced the WFP to cut food rations for a million people in Uganda earlier this year, raising fears that refugees may be pushed back towards conflict zones.
