MPs urged to defend refugee support amid global funding cuts
Tayebwa said Uganda’s commitment to hosting refugees goes beyond humanitarian assistance and is rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which places humanity and compassion at the centre of society.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. (File photo)
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Uganda will not abandon its long-standing open-door refugee policy despite declining international humanitarian funding, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has said, urging Members of Parliament to safeguard refugee rights, strengthen oversight of refugee resources and uphold the country's democratic values.
Speaking during a capacity-building workshop for the Parliamentary Forum on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Tayebwa said Uganda’s commitment to hosting refugees goes beyond humanitarian assistance and is rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which places humanity and compassion at the centre of society.
He challenged legislators from refugee-hosting districts to take a leading role in ensuring refugee programmes are well-funded, transparent and beneficial to both refugees and host communities as Uganda shifts from emergency humanitarian assistance to long-term socio-economic integration.
“Hosting refugees is not charity. It is about Ubuntu. It is about humanity. When someone is fleeing an existential threat, you do not first think about the budget or the available space—you think about saving a human life,” Tayebwa said.
Funding pressures
His remarks come at a time when refugee programmes across Africa are grappling with shrinking donor support, forcing governments and humanitarian agencies to rethink how refugee populations are supported.
Tayebwa acknowledged that external financing is becoming increasingly constrained but insisted that Uganda’s refugee policy should not depend solely on foreign aid.
He said Parliament should work with government to mobilise domestic resources while continuing to engage development partners for sustained international support.
“Even if international support was reduced by 100%, it should never reduce our spirit of Ubuntu. Closing our borders because funding has declined can never become an option. That would mean abandoning our humanity,” he said.
From humanitarian aid to integration
Uganda currently hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations, mainly from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
Tayebwa welcomed government’s transition under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and the Country Refugee Response Plan 2026–2030, which seeks to move beyond emergency relief towards integrating refugees into local economies and communities.
“Some refugees have lived here for more than 20 years. They have been educated here, they operate businesses and have built families. We are now simply acknowledging a reality that already exists; they are part of our society,” he said.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also challenged Members of Parliament to translate regional refugee commitments into national legislation, budget allocations and effective oversight as East Africa grapples with rising displacement caused by conflict, climate change and economic pressures.
Speaking at the workshop, IGAD Head of Mission in Uganda, Joselyn Bigirwa, described Uganda as a global model for refugee protection, saying the country’s willingness to host more than two million refugees demonstrates exceptional political leadership and humanity.
“Hosting over two million refugees and asylum seekers is not just a statistic; it is a testament to humanity, solidarity and moral leadership. Uganda’s open-door policy, land allocation model and social inclusion frameworks remain a benchmark for Africa and the international community,” Bigirwa said.
She warned that displacement across the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region is becoming increasingly complex, driven not only by armed conflicts but also by climate shocks, land disputes and worsening socio-economic conditions.
According to Bigirwa, refugee movements should no longer be viewed solely as humanitarian emergencies but as regional development challenges requiring coordinated political, legislative and financial responses.
“Declarations alone cannot change lives. They require strong national policies, deliberate development planning and, above all, proactive legislative backing,” she said.
Bigirwa noted that IGAD has progressively built a regional policy framework to improve refugee protection, beginning with the 2017 Djibouti Declaration on refugee education, followed by the 2019 Kampala Declaration promoting jobs and self-reliance, the 2022 Mombasa Declaration on cross-border health, the 2023 Munyonyo Declaration developed jointly with the East African Community, and most recently the 2024 IGAD Policy Framework that promotes socio-economic integration and safe refugee governance.
She said those commitments are already translating into practical support for Uganda through investments in health, education and livelihoods.
Among the interventions, Bigirwa highlighted IGAD's delivery of approximately $700,000 worth of emergency response equipment to Uganda’s Ministry of Health to strengthen Mpox response and cross-border disease surveillance, support for developing Uganda’s National Refugee Education Qualifications Framework, technical assistance for the National Jobs, Livelihoods and Integrated Self-Reliance Response Plan, and backing for the country’s draft National Refugee Policy.
IGAD is also preparing a €3-4 million Regional Migration Fund Project along the Elegu-Nimule border corridor between 2027 and 2029.
The initiative will support skills development, agro-processing, livestock production, water infrastructure and sanitation services to improve livelihoods and resilience in border communities.
“Humanitarian relief alone cannot resolve long-term displacement realities. Parliament is the critical bridge between humanitarian action and sustainable development solutions,” she said.
Disaster preparedness and refugees minister Sam Engola said humanitarian funding is declining while refugee arrivals continue to increase.
“Refugee-hosting districts face mounting pressure on social services, infrastructure, natural resources, and livelihoods. These realities demand stronger linkages between humanitarian assistance and long-term development,” he said.
However, he said government remains committed to tackling the challenges.
“As Government, we remain firmly committed to implementing Uganda’s refugee policy... while safeguarding the dignity and the rights of those forcibly displaced,” he said.
The permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Alex Kakooza, noted that Uganda’s refugee response has experienced significant humanitarian funding reductions, placing increasing pressure on education, health, livelihoods, protection and other essential services in refugee-hosting districts.
“At the same time, government is pursuing a strategic transition towards more sustainable, government-led, and development-oriented approaches that reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance while strengthening national systems,” he noted.
Additionally, he said the Office of the Prime Minister shall continue to reinforce the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that underpins Uganda’s commitment under the CRRF and the Global Refugee Forum.
Tom Bright Amooti, chairperson of the parliamentary forum for refugees, said the House must ensure refugee and displacement issues are integrated into national development planning and policy processes, while also recognising the legitimate needs and contributions of host communities.
“We must strengthen parliamentary attention to refugee protection, livelihoods, education, health, documentation, economic inclusion, and integration. Equally important is our responsibility to address internal displacement, disaster risks, and emerging forms of displacement, including those associated with climate and environmental pressures,” Amooti said.
Michael John Wells from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Uganda said Uganda is one of the shining examples of refugee leadership, not just in the region, but globally.
“It’s not because of the numbers or how many it hosts; it’s because of how Uganda hosts refugees. Uganda demonstrates the value of integrating refugees into national systems and planning. However, refugee inclusion and local development can go hand in hand when international solidarity becomes investment in infrastructure, services, and livelihoods,” he said.
However, he noted that the future of refugee protection must balance asylum and life-saving humanitarian support with investment in national systems, local economies and durable solutions.