Daily monitor

The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Mr Sam Engola poses for a group photo with technical staff from OPM and other development partners after ana emergency meeting on children funding on October 6, 2026.

UNHCR Country Representative to Uganda, Ms. Margaret Atieno, highlighted that Uganda’s celebrated model for refugee management requires an evolutionary shift in strategy. She stated that traditional humanitarian response mechanisms are no longer viable for long-term, large-scale refugee populations, as the situation has transitioned from an acute emergency into a prolonged protracted reality.

Over 200,000 primary and secondary school learners in Uganda’s refugee-hosting districts face the grim prospect of failing to complete the current academic year due to a critical shortage of teachers. The crisis stems from persistent donor funding cuts in the refugee sector, which have left thousands of educators without financial support.

Speaking during an emergency meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Kampala on October 6, 2026, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Mr. Sam Engola, warned that the shortfall directly threatens candidates preparing for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). The high-level meeting brought together technical staff from the OPM, officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, and representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to formulate an immediate response.

Minister Engola noted that while the government has maintained its commitment to supporting refugees, dwindling international aid poses an immediate risk to candidate classes. Any interruption at this stage would bring severe consequences for learners who have spent the entire year preparing for national assessments. He urged development partners to act swiftly to prevent temporary financing gaps from escalating into a full-scale educational collapse, emphasizing that long-term government solutions take time to implement. He clarified that the government is not seeking to delay short-term donor financing, but recognizes the urgent necessity of establishing a sustainable funding structure for essential services in host communities.

The funding pull-back has already triggered the layoff of over 1,000 staff members by major international humanitarian organizations. Across the affected districts, approximately 1,500 teachers are now at risk of going unpaid despite continuing to report to operational schools. Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi, the Commissioner for Basic Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, stressed that keeping teachers in classrooms is vital to protecting the children’s academic future. He called on development partners to help bridge the immediate gap while the government and the World Bank finalize a durable financing framework.

Representing the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR Country Representative to Uganda, Ms. Margaret Atieno, highlighted that Uganda’s celebrated model for refugee management requires an evolutionary shift in strategy. She stated that traditional humanitarian response mechanisms are no longer viable for long-term, large-scale refugee populations, as the situation has transitioned from an acute emergency into a prolonged protracted reality.

Ms. Atieno informed stakeholders that international development partners have made it clear that stop-gap bridging funds can no longer sustain the current system. She urged a rapid transition toward a long-term, ministry-led approach, warning that primary school candidates are currently putting final touches on their exam revisions. She further requested that government partners maintain support to ensure schools operate smoothly and avoid future learning losses.

Uganda currently hosts over two million refugees, retaining its status as the leading refugee-hosting nation in Africa. The vast majority of refugees originate from South Sudan (57 percent) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (31 percent), alongside populations from Somalia, Burundi, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

The ongoing financial crunch heavily impacts 13 host districts, including Yumbe, Adjumani, Moyo, Koboko, Terego, Kiryandongo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Isingiro, Lamwo, and Kikuube. To resolve the broader crisis, the government is working to mobilize long-term financing through the national budget and multilateral partners, including the World Bank, to stabilize essential service delivery across all host communities.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis