Uganda hosts over 2 million refugees, with new arrivals placing growing pressure on health and protection services.
Disease outbreaks, including Ebola, are deepening risks for refugees and the communities hosting them.
Donors and governments must maintain investment in integrated support that reaches people at their most vulnerable.
Kampala, Uganda, 16 June 2026 — The European Union has committed €8.2 million to a new programme in Uganda that will support disaster response preparedness and refugees and host communities’ access to protection, emergency cash, and disease outbreak response services. A further €1 million has been committed specifically to support the IRC and its partners' Ebola response in the country.
Uganda is one of the world's largest refugee-hosting countries, with over 2 million refugees and asylum seekers, and continued arrivals stretching already strained health and protection systems. At the same time, recurring disease outbreaks, such as the current Ebola outbreak, are deepening risks for refugees and the communities around them.
"Families arriving in Uganda have often fled conflict and loss, only to face overstretched services and serious health risks on arrival," said Elijah Okeyo, Country Director, IRC Uganda. "This support means people can get help faster and that we can respond to disease threats before they spiral."
The IRC, together with partners Lutheran World Federation, Medical Teams International, Uganda Red Cross Society, and African Women & Youth Action for Development, will deliver the programme, known as ‘VITAL’, across 13 districts receiving new arrivals in northern, western, and south-western Uganda.
The programme will provide protection services for women, children, and others at heightened risk, as well as emergency cash so families can meet urgent needs with dignity. It will also strengthen preparedness and response to disease outbreaks, including Ebola. By bringing these services together, the programme aims to reach people earlier, especially in the critical window after arrival, when needs are greatest and support is hardest to find. The additional €1 million for the IRC's Ebola response will strengthen frontline efforts at a time when public health risks across the region remain serious.
“Uganda’s generosity in hosting refugees must be matched with sustained international support,” said Liam Kelly, who oversees European Union humanitarian programmes in Uganda. “Investing in preparedness and integrated services is critical to saving lives, strengthening resilience and helping communities respond to both displacement and public health challenges.”
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.