The number of refugees worldwide has more than doubled over the past decade, increasing to 36.4 million in mid-2023. Africa has over 6 million refugees, with Uganda alone hosting the lion’s share at more than 1.6 million. There are two reasons for this: Uganda’s current stability in a fragile region and its progressive refugee management policy. This model consists of an open border and, importantly, a settlement approach in which refugees are not confined to a camp but free to move around the country, live alongside Ugandan citizens, and given equal access to government services.
In recent years, however, large refugee inflows have increased the pressure on land, infrastructure, and social services in refugee-hosting districts of Uganda. A stable supply of clean, accessible water is needed for the well-being of refugees and their hosts, yet Uganda’s long-standing model for water services in these districts is largely humanitarian-driven. It is also fragmented and unstable because of institutional and financing gaps.
This paper outlines Uganda’s pioneering shift away from a traditional humanitarian water service model—designed for short-term emergencies—to a holistic approach that integrates refugees and host communities in long-term national development planning. The lessons learned in Uganda, and captured in this paper, will benefit organizations and countries that find themselves managing forced displacement and striving to improve the provision of water services.