Uganda is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, with 1,529,904 refugees (as of 28 February 2022). The vast influx of refugees is due to several factors in Uganda's neighboring countries, especially war and violence in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and associated economic crisis and political instability in the region. Uganda has relatively 'friendly' policies that provide rights to the refugees, such as rights to education, work, private property, healthcare and other basic social services.
Demographics
Most of the refugees in Uganda come from neighboring countries, especially South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Refugee Camps
Uganda currently has 11 settlement camps: Achol-Pii Settlement Bidi Bidi Settlement Imvepi Refugee Settlement Kampala Settlement Kiryandongo Settlement Kyaka II Settlement Kyangwali Settlement Nakivale Settlement Palorinya Settlement Rhino Settlement Rwamwanja Settlement
Almost 50% of refugees in Uganda are located in the Bidi Bidi, Pagirinya, and Rhino refugee settlement camps, located in the northwest region of the country. Additionally, South Sudan accounts for 62% of refugees in Uganda, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for 29%.
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
As of the end of 2019, there are over 900,000 Congolese refugees being hosted in various African countries, with over 40% currently in Uganda. The region of the DR Congo bordering Uganda is the place of origin for the vast majority of Congolese refugees. The massive influx of refugees is largely caused by the persistent violence and fighting that has dominated the DR Congo. Many refugees enter Uganda through Lake Albert in the Ituri province of the DR Congo, which borders the northwest region of Uganda. Of the 900,000 refugees, almost 3% are children traveling alone; almost 2% are women at risk; and 0.2% are fleeing sexual- or gender-based violence.
The presence of refugees in Uganda has had a positive influence on the rates of consumption and access to private education in the communities that host them. This is due to increased channels of commerce in areas where more refugees are present, and the policies enforced by non-governmental organizations that allow for private education providers to be more common in areas with higher refugee populations.
Reasons for Fleeing
The Kivu Conflict
The conflict in the Kivu region of the DR Congo has persisted since before the First Congo War, and currently takes form as a conflict between ethnic groups with political actors having a major influence. Armed groups from the Congolese Babembe, Bafuliru, and Banyindu communities are fighting with the Rwandan Banyamulenge, as Rwanda borders the Kivu region. Many suggest that the conflict concerns control over land and resources, as Kivu is plentiful in minerals.
This conflict has resulted in the displacement of over 200,000 people and the destruction of many communities. Further, crucial facilities have been destroyed, including schools, hospitals, and clinics. As of August 2019, almost 2,000 civilians have been killed in this conflict.
Violence in Ituri
The conflict in the Ituri province of the DR Congo is a result of fighting between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups. This violence has persisted for years, though it recently worsened as the availability of weapons in the area increased. Since September 2018, the Lendus have carried out an increasing amount of violent attacks against the Hemas, with crimes ranging from killings, rapings, and destruction of crucial facilities.
During the summer of 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi of the DR Congo condemned the inter-ethnic group violence as attempted genocide. In January 2020, the United Nations released a report declaring the ethnic violence in the Ituri province to be crimes against humanity. Hundreds of Congolese seeking safety and stability cross into Uganda every day as a result of this conflict.
More than 700 people have been killed in this conflict, and hundreds are victims of sexual violence. The majority of these victims are from the Hema communities.
The Ebola Outbreak
Since 1976, there have been 10 outbreaks of Ebola in the DR Congo, with the most recent one beginning in August 2018 and continuing into the present. The current outbreak mostly effects the Ituri and North Kivu provinces, and the number of cases has officially surpassed 3,000. In July 2019, this outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by a representative of the World Health Organization.