Welcomed but forgotten: refugees and host communities struggle in northern Uganda

Uganda has long been a crossroads of migration, shaped by historical and contemporary population movements. Today, it hosts over 1.9 million refugees and asylum seekers—one of the largest refugee populations in the world.

AVSI Foundation implemented STEP - Transition from Emergency to Sustainable Development Program, a project funded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the Italian Agency for development Cooperation, in collaboration with the Office of the Ugandan Prime Minister, UNHCR, local leaders and partners. It aimed at improving the socioeconomic stability of refugees and host communities, by addressing their priority needs through a multisectoral approach. The project reached 600 direct participants.

A photo reportage by Nicolò Filippo Rosso. 

The project promoted the use of renewable technologies among households, increasing adoption from 0% to 61%. These included briquette production, small-scale irrigation, water harvesting, energy-saving cooking solutions, and partnerships with private renewable energy providers.

By the end of the initiative, 92% of families reported higher agricultural production. This was supported through training, access to farming tools and seeds, and the establishment of backyard gardens with reliable water supply. The program also formed 24 production and marketing groups, bringing together refugees and host community members to improve cooperation and create income opportunities.

Support systems for the most vulnerable were strengthened, offering mental health and psychosocial services, gender-based violence prevention, and legal assistance through community dialogues, legal clinics, and coordinated referral pathways. 

Cases of abuse and neglect were promptly referred as a result of child protection and birth registration initiatives. Special focus was placed on pregnant adolescents, young women, and youth, who received life skills training, mentorship, and sport therapy—resulting in 80% showing positive behavior change. Positive parenting sessions also improved family relationships, with follow-up home visits and group mentoring helping communities sustain these changes. 

Completed in May 2025, the project improved the lives of refugees and host communities through practical tools, environmental initiatives, and wellbeing support across northen Uganda.