Uganda continues to host one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with more than 1.5 million refugees, including over 860,000 children, seeking safety within its borders.
The country’s progressive refugee policy, widely praised for promoting inclusion, access to land, and opportunities for self-reliance, has provided a supportive environment for displaced populations. However, many refugees have yet to fully benefit from these opportunities, leaving a large portion still dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Currently, about 90 percent of refugees rely heavily on food or cash aid, while 91 percent of refugee households remain economically vulnerable.
The situation has also intensified pressure on natural resources in refugee-hosting areas.
Compounding the challenge, chronic underfunding of humanitarian programs has worsened food insecurity among refugees. As a result, many households are resorting to harmful coping mechanisms, including reducing the number of daily meals, borrowing money, begging, withdrawing children from school, child labour, and forced marriages.
To address these challenges, DanChurchAid (DCA) has launched an initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience of both refugees and host communities through an integrated development approach.
Central to the project is the transition to agroecology, a sustainable farming approach that works with natural ecosystems.
Agroecology is expected to deliver multiple benefits such as improved food security, increased household income among others. These outcomes are particularly critical for vulnerable communities that rely heavily on small-scale agriculture as their primary livelihood.
As Uganda continues to balance humanitarian needs with long-term development goals, initiatives like this aim to transform refugee assistance from short-term relief into sustainable livelihood solutions.
