KAMPALA,UGANDA– The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has called on the European Union (EU) to increase funding for Uganda’s refugee response, warning that declining humanitarian support is straining public services and host communities.
Tayebwa made the appeal on Monday, 21st September 2026, while meeting Members of the European Parliament, Hon. Tineke Strik and Hon. Anna Strolenberg, at Parliament. The delegation is in the country to assess Uganda’s refugee policies and explore ways of strengthening cooperation on refugee management.
He said Uganda continues to welcome refugees on humanitarian grounds but is struggling to meet their needs due to a growing funding gap.
According to Tayebwa, Uganda’s 2026 refugee response plan requires about USD 850 million, but only 12 percent has been provided by international partners so far.
“The funding cuts have affected services such as health and education in refugee-hosting communities, while also putting more pressure on the Office of the Prime Minister,” Tayebwa said.
Uganda currently hosts more than two million refugees and asylum-seekers, making it the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa.
Tayebwa urged the EU to support Uganda not only with funding but also in addressing conflicts in neighbouring countries that are forcing people to flee into Uganda.
In response, Hon. Tineke Strik praised Uganda for its open-door refugee policy and hospitality, saying the EU and the Netherlands could learn from Uganda’s model.
She called for increased international support, stressing that Uganda should not be left to shoulder the refugee burden alone.
The meeting comes at a time when humanitarian agencies have warned of worsening conditions in refugee settlements due to reduced food rations and overstretched social services.
Pictorial:
Story by: Kamwebaze Happiness Muteganda
