Uganda — humanitarian situation

Uganda faces mounting humanitarian pressures from regional disease threats, a growing refugee population, and climate-related risks, compounding demands on an already strained response system. The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached critical proportions, with more than 4,381 confirmed cases and 2,011 deaths as of 9 August WHO. While 99.5% of cases remain in DRC, Uganda has reported cross-border transmission WHO, prompting intensive preparedness measures in border counties including Yei, Morobo, and Nzara. The outbreak's case-fatality ratio of approximately 45% reflects delayed care access (Africa CDC), and WHO has classified this as the largest and fastest-expanding Ebola outbreak ever reported in DRC. Regional health agencies have designated South Sudan and by extension Uganda's border areas as high-risk for importation due to extensive cross-border movement and weak surveillance capacity (Mercy Corps). Uganda's refugee response continues under severe strain, now hosting more than 2 million refugees and asylum seekers as of June 2026, including approximately 1.06 million South Sudanese and 95,579 Sudanese NRC. The Sudanese caseload has increased more than fivefold since January 2024, driven by conflict that has displaced 11.3 million people across the Sudan situation, including 4.6 million in neighboring countries UNHCR. Funding shortfalls have forced a shift from humanitarian relief toward sustainable livelihood programming, with WFP and GIZ launching the Energy and Self-Reliance Programme in West Nile to address gaps as traditional assistance contracts NRC, WFP. Additional threats include intensifying El Niño conditions, with a very strong event expected during the October-December rainy season that poses severe flooding risks across Eastern Africa OCHA. The region already faces acute vulnerabilities, with 48.5 million people requiring humanitarian assistance and more than 40 million experiencing acute food insecurity OCHA. Protection concerns remain acute for refugee populations in Kampala and Kiryandongo, where Sudanese and South Sudanese communities navigate under-resourced services and challenging urban displacement conditions NRC.