Charities pool efforts to feed Kiryandongo refugees

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In the wake of food insecurity in the refugee settlements due to aid cuts, charity organisations are pooling efforts to remedy Uganda’s refugee response.

One of these organisations is Lisa Supporting and Sustaining Lives (LSSL), which says it has partnered with Muslim Charity UK to feed 1,000 South Sudanese refugee households at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Kiryandongo district.

The charities in a joint statement revealed that each household will receive a food package containing 10kg of rice, 10kg of beans, one litre of cooking oil, and a packet of salt, intended to provide essential support into the new year. They indicated a plan to sustain food distribution.

The distribution, effective January 5, 2026, the charities say, responds to the dire need for food among displaced families living in the settlement where many face persistent hunger.

Former youth and children affairs minister and board chairperson of LSSL Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi said the support goes beyond satisfying immediate hunger.

“This intervention is not just about food; it is about standing with families who have endured hardship and displacement. With the support of Muslim Charity UK and in close co-ordination with the Office of the Prime Minister, we are ensuring that this support reaches those who need it most, transparently and responsibly,” she said.

The Muslim Charity UK is the principal donor behind the food aid intervention. The international relief and development non-governmental organisation registered in the United Kingdom has a mission focused on alleviating suffering among vulnerable populations, including during emergencies, while also supporting long-term development through education, health, water and livelihood programmes.

Uganda’s open-door refugee policy is globally lauded and has ensured that the country currently hosts about 1.95 million refugees, with a majority from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Under Uganda’s progressive refugee framework, the asylum seekers are granted freedom of movement, the right to work, access to social services and allocation of land for settlement, enabling them to live with dignity alongside host communities.

Managed by the Office of the Prime Minister in partnership with humanitarian agencies, Uganda’s approach is widely cited as a global model for refugee protection and integration, even as continued regional instability places pressure on resources and humanitarian support systems.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says by 2026 the total population of refugees in Uganda could clock two million.

Kiyingi said the food distribution initiative has undergone comprehensive governance steps, including approval by LSSL’s management committee and board, procurement planning and compliance with donor and national humanitarian guidelines.

“In collaboration with Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and settlement authorities, LSSL has jointly verified the beneficiary list to ensure that the aid reaches the most vulnerable households within the refugee community,” she said.

She said the exercise will be conducted in co-ordination with district leadership and security agencies to uphold order and accountability during the distribution process.

Local leaders in Kiryandongo have welcomed the planned distribution, noting that food support remains a critical lifeline as longer-term livelihood programmes continue to expand.