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OnAsylum

Africa

Uganda

Long regarded as having one of the most progressive refugee policies in the world — freedom of movement, the right to work, and land allocation — but a catastrophic funding collapse forced Uganda to suspend new refugee status determination for three nationalities in December 2025, and conditions in existing settlements have deteriorated sharply.

At a glance, for someone deciding whether to come here

Not tourist facts — the things that actually shape daily life while your case is pending and after it's decided.

Right to workPermitted, and genuinely exercised in practice — a defining feature of Uganda's settlement model.
Cost of living Low Low overall, though self-reliance depends heavily on land quality and settlement location.
Healthcare while pendingBasic healthcare is provided within settlements, at a service level well below Western standards.
LanguageEnglish is an official language; local languages vary by settlement region.
Family reunificationGenerally accessible within the registration system, given the scale of family-based arrivals already common here.
After you're granted statusLong-term local integration is possible, though formal citizenship is rare in practice for refugees.
ClimateTropical, warm year-round, with distinct wet seasons.
Existing communityVery large refugee population overall — one of the largest host countries in Africa, with strong peer networks in most settlements.
Starter content, pending expert review. This page describes general, publicly known information about how this country's asylum system works. It is not legal advice and may be out of date — policies change often. Last drafted 2026-09-04.

How you could qualify to enter this system

  • Registration with the Office of the Prime Minister and UNHCR, generally at a reception or transit center near the border — but as of our last check, new status determination was suspended specifically for Somali, Eritrean, and Ethiopian nationals

How the process generally works

New arrivals typically register at a border reception center, are interviewed, and are allocated to a settlement, where the self-reliance model has historically allowed more freedom of movement and livelihood activity than in most refugee-hosting countries. That model is under real strain: UNHCR's operational funding for Uganda reportedly dropped from around $240 million to $100 million, which the government has directly cited as the reason for suspending new refugee status determination for Somali, Eritrean, and Ethiopian nationals starting December 2025 — the first significant retreat in Uganda's open-door policy.

Step by step

  1. Registration

    At a border reception or transit center with the Office of the Prime Minister and UNHCR. As of February 2026, a valid ID from your country of origin is required for new arrivals.

  2. Individual status interview

    Now required for everyone, following the February 2026 withdrawal of group-based (prima facie) recognition for South Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, and Somalia nationals.

  3. Settlement allocation

    Historically paired with land allocation and freedom of movement under Uganda's self-reliance model — though funding cuts have strained services across many settlements.

  4. Ongoing access to services Varies, currently strained

    Subject to real disruption — health and other programs have reportedly been suspended in multiple settlements due to funding shortfalls.

What you'll typically need

  • Any ID available (not always required to register)
  • Details of your situation for registration purposes

Support available while your case is decided

  • Land allocation and freedom of movement within the settlement model, where still functioning
  • UNHCR and partner NGOs operate in settlement areas, though several have suspended services due to funding cuts

Be aware the humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly: acute malnutrition has risen from 5.4% to 7.8% across most refugee locations, and health programs have reportedly been suspended in at least 11 settlements (including Bidibidi, Kiryandongo, Palabek, and Rhino Camp), affecting an estimated 735,000 people. This doesn't mean Uganda has closed its doors broadly, but it does mean the settlement experience right now is materially worse than Uganda's reputation suggests, and registration itself may not currently be available if you're Somali, Eritrean, or Ethiopian specifically. A second, separate change: by a 5 February 2026 government circular, Uganda withdrew group-based ("prima facie") refugee recognition for nationals of South Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, and Somalia — people from these countries are no longer recognized automatically as a group and now go through individual status determination like everyone else. The Office of the Prime Minister has since said broad registration restrictions were lifted, but new arrivals must now present a valid ID from their home country to register — a real barrier for anyone who fled without documents.

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming automatic group recognition still applies for South Sudan, DR Congo, Burundi, or Somalia — it was withdrawn in February 2026; expect an individual interview instead.
  • Arriving without any ID from your country of origin — this is now a real obstacle to registration, not a formality.
  • Relying on Uganda's older reputation for open registration without checking current status for your specific nationality — Somali, Eritrean, and Ethiopian nationals specifically faced a registration suspension starting December 2025.
  • Assuming settlement services (health, food assistance) are fully intact — funding cuts have suspended programs in multiple settlements.
Sources checked for this page