Uganda — humanitarian situation

Uganda faces spillover risks from the escalating Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has become the largest and fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in DRC history. As of 23 August 2026, DRC reported 5,001 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths, with sustained transmission in Ituri, intensifying spread in Nord-Kivu and Haut-Uélé, and continued geographic expansion WHO. The outbreak unfolds against a triple crisis backdrop in eastern DRC involving health risks and large-scale displacement IOM. Cross-border transmission risks remain elevated, with Uganda participating in regional preparedness activities including logistics support through the Entebbe Staging Area WFP. Response operations have been complicated by attacks on humanitarian workers, with 12 Red Cross volunteers injured and ambulances damaged in multiple incidents over recent days IFRC. Uganda's refugee-hosting context presents additional vulnerabilities, though specific population figures are not provided in recent reports. An assessment examining refugees' right to work conducted between October and December 2025 identified de facto barriers limiting refugees' access to decent and protected employment despite legal provisions NRC. The analysis, supported by UNHCR, the European Union, and Norway, generated evidence-based recommendations to address operational constraints affecting refugee livelihoods. Regional displacement patterns show Sudanese returns from neighboring countries including Uganda, though specific numbers for Ugandan-hosted populations are not detailed UNHCR. Broader regional risks include forecasted El Niño conditions expected to intensify flooding during the October rainy season across East Africa, potentially displacing up to three million people regionally in worst-case scenarios, with Somalia and Kenya projected to experience the largest displacement shares DRC. An Oxfam evaluation of the Emergency Response Fund Agility pilot demonstrated that locally led, flexible funding mechanisms managed by local consortia can deliver rapid, inclusive, and cost-effective humanitarian response in Uganda and other contexts. The evaluation covered 2021–2025 operations and recommends donor investment in scalable, locally managed funding structures.