Attachments
Overview
Approximately 797,000 people in refugee-hosting districts in Uganda are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), representing 17 percent of the population analysed. Of the 12 districts analysed, four were classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), while the remaining eight were classified in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed).
The situation shows improvement compared to the same period in the previous year (August 2023 – January 2024), when six districts were classified in Phase 3, and the total number of food-insecure individuals decreased from 846,000 to 797,000. Adjumani and Kyegegwa districts transitioned from Phase 3 to Phase 2, reflecting better conditions. However, challenges persist due to poor rainfall performance, prolonged dry spells, rising food prices, low purchasing power, crop and livestock pests and diseases, and conflicts between host communities and refugees. These factors have driven many refugeehosting communities into high levels of acute food insecurity.
Households in Kiryandongo, Lamwo, Terego, and Yumbe—classified in Phase 3—are particularly vulnerable. Poor first season harvests, and reduced purchasing power are widening food consumption gaps, forcing affected households that have already exhausted their food reserves to rely on crisis and emergency coping strategies. Refugees, poor host households, and urban households dependent on markets are among the hardest hit.
It is important to note that the current analysis period coincides with two agricultural harvest seasons: the March–May and September–December rains, during which harvests of major staple crops are expected to be favourable in most districts, according to field reports. According to UNHCR, as of 31 October 2024, Uganda hosts over 1.7 million refugees and asylum-seekers in 13 districts. Approximately 8 percent of these refugees are in the Capital city Kampala and 92 percent are in 13 settlements spread across the 12 districts of Adjumani, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kikuube, Kiryandongo, Koboko, Kyegegwa, Lamwo, Madi Okollo, Obongi, Terego and Yumbe. For these poor households, it is essential to implement activities aimed at saving lives, reducing food consumption deficits and protecting livelihoods.
The projection period (February to June 2025) will coincide with the dry season and lean period in all 12 districts analysed. Without timely interventions, the acute food insecurity situation is expected to gradually deteriorate from March 2025 to the end of the projection period, with the number of people in Phase 3 or above increasing from 797,000 people (17 percent of the analysed population) to 953,000 people (21 percent of the analysed population). Adjumani, Isingiro, Koboko, Madi Okollo and Obongi are anticipated to worsen from Phase 2 to Phase 3. The increase in food-insecure individuals includes 156,000 new cases, most of whom are in districts experiencing phase changes in addition to those already in Phase 3.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, approximately 54,000 children aged 6-59 months and 9,800 pregnant or breastfeeding women (PBW) are suffering or projected to suffer acute malnutrition in the 13 refugee settlements and urban refugee populations. This corresponds to a 53 and 26 percent reduction for children and PBW, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The significant improvement is attributed to the strengthened nutrition specific and sensitive interventions among the refugees and host communities. During the projection period, the only area in IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert) is expected to improve to IPC AMN Phase 1 (Acceptable), while the rest are expected to remain in Phase 1.