Uganda currently hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world and continues to receive more. According to a 2023 report from the World Food Programme (WFP), refugee households in the West Nile are generally poorer and less resilient than those in the host communities, have low levels of land for agriculture or livestock rearing, and rely heavily on assistance as a main source of food and income. Access to land is crucial for them, both for accommodation and livelihoods, and to help increase their resilience for the future.
The NRC Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Programme has been implementing activities in three settlements in the West Nile region: Bidibidi, Rhino Camp and Imvepi. In these locations NRC provides legal aid services on housing, land and property (HLP) including legal awareness, counselling, legal assistance, collaborative dispute resolution to resolve HLP disputes (e.g., mediation), capacity building and advocacy.
During the period from June 2021 to May 2024, NRC has assisted over 37,000 refugees and host community members on HLP issues in the three settlements.
This report covers the main HLP issues such as disputes over access and use of land, specific challenges faced by female refugees, poor accommodation and destruction of crops by stray animals. It then describes best practices that have been developed over the three years, and how approaches have adapted to changing circumstances, such as the increasing population and pressures on land, as well as the continued challenges related to climate change.
The decrease in funding, the continued insecurity in the home countries of the refugees and protracted displacement in Uganda highlight the need to build on these best practices to prepare for new shocks, especially those caused by increasing refugee populations (and demands), a decrease in available land and other natural resources and climate change. Secure HLP rights are essential to the protection and strengthened self-reliance for refugees in Uganda.
Download full report:
