Author(s)

Abstract

Uganda has long been recognized as a global leader in refugee protection, hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world with a progressive policy framework that promotes the rights and self-reliance of those fleeing conflict and persecution. This leadership was reaffirmed at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF), where the Government of Uganda, serving as a co-convenor, made a series of ambitious, forward-looking pledges to promote the sustainability of its Refugee Response. These commitments were structured across five key thematic areas:

1. Increasing Resilience and Self-Reliance;
2. Addressing Environment, Climate Change and Energy Challenges;
3. Localising the Refugee Response: Strengthening the Role of Local and National Responders;
4. Securing Durable Solutions for Refugees, and;
5. Transition Management - Pathways to Sustainable Burden-Sharing.

Two years onwards, Uganda’s pledges remain as relevant as ever. Yet their implementation is being severely tested by the current context. To date, Uganda is hosting nearly 2 million refugees, making it the largest refugee hosting country in Africa. This number is likely to further increase in 2026. At the same time, the country is facing an unprecedented collapse in funding for the refugee response. As a result, many partners have had to prioritise lifesaving and emergency interventions - potentially at the cost of longer-term, development-oriented solutions.

This “Mid-Term Progress Review on the Ugandan 2023 Global Refugee Forum Pledges” report documents the findings of a pivotal national consultation convened by the Government of Uganda (GoU) in collaboration with UNHCR from 4th to 5th November 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, as well as the data collection conducted by the CRRF Secretariat in collaboration with UNHCR on partner’s contributions to the pledges. As the first stocktaking exercise of its kind in the region, the meeting was held to assess the progress achieved in the two years since the GRF 2023, critically examine the challenges hindering implementation, and chart a collective path forward. The stocktaking meeting was complemented by a Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus Forum held on 6th of November by GoU, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to showcase Uganda’s achievements in implementing the HDP-Nexus, identify challenges and promote further initiatives.