For decades, access to safe and clean water has remained one of the biggest challenges facing refugees living in Uganda’s settlements, posing significant risks to livelihoods and public health. The challenge has been compounded by severe food ration cuts and chronic underfunding of humanitarian assistance.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Sam Engola, says while the government recognizes the magnitude of the problem, expanding water services in refugee settlements largely falls under the mandate of humanitarian agencies, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Uganda currently hosts more than two million refugees, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. However, access to safe and clean water remains a major concern across many settlements.
According to Engola, although the government is committed to supporting refugees, international refugee management arrangements place the primary responsibility for water provision on humanitarian partners.
“UNHCR is already helping us by ensuring water supply in refugee settlements, but the refugee population is much higher than the available water points. I call upon them to prioritize the construction of more motorized boreholes so that refugee communities can access clean and safe water,” Engola said.
The minister made the remarks while commissioning a Shs1.5 billion solar-powered water project at Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro District. The project was constructed by the Uganda Red Cross Society with support from the Australian Development Cooperation through the Australian Red Cross.
“Government has provided sufficient land for refugees, and we appreciate the support from our partners. However, they need to mobilize more resources to improve the welfare of refugees, especially by expanding access to clean water,” Engola added.
Nakivale Refugee Settlement is home to more than 280,000 refugees, but the newly commissioned water project is designed to serve only about half of that population. As one of Uganda’s oldest and largest refugee reception centres, Nakivale continues to grapple with persistent water shortages that threaten both livelihoods and public health.
The Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society, Robert Kwesiga, said additional funding will be required to expand water infrastructure as the refugee population continues to grow.
“We need to expand this water project because refugees continue to arrive. Alternatively, we must identify another water source to complement this one. We are also encouraged that the government is extending water to Nakivale through the Kagera Water Project,” Kwesiga said.
For many refugees, accessing water has meant walking several kilometres to Lake Nakivale, exposing them to dangerous wildlife and waterborne diseases.
Forty-three-year-old Nsabimana Nyiramugisha, a mother of ten, recounted the daily hardships her family has endured.
“Getting water meant making a dangerous journey to Lake Nakivale. We faced threats from crocodiles and snakes, while also risking diseases such as dysentery, typhoid and other stomach infections,” she said.
Beyond water shortages, refugee settlements across Uganda continue to struggle with reduced food rations and inadequate humanitarian funding, forcing many refugees to fend for themselves.
To ensure the sustainability of the new water system, every refugee and host community household will contribute Shs1,000 per month towards maintenance and future repairs.
Jogo Titus, the Refugee Desk Officer for the Western Region, said the contribution is intended to promote community ownership and long-term sustainability.
“Every refugee and host community household must contribute towards maintaining this water system. We do not want to encourage dependency. We are preparing communities for the time when the Kagera Water Project becomes operational and water services will require payment,” he explained.
Despite the milestone, the project still faces challenges, including environmental degradation around Lake Nakivale and seasonal fluctuations in the lake’s water levels, which could affect long-term sustainability.
Meanwhile, Engola revealed that the government has secured funding to construct 400 kilometres of tarmac roads across all 14 refugee settlements in Uganda, a move expected to improve connectivity, service delivery and humanitarian response.
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