In a major policy reversal, Uganda has stopped granting asylum and refugee status to people from Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The government cites severe funding shortfalls, with annual support from international partners plummeting from $240 million to just $18 million this year. The decision threatens to leave thousands of people in legal limbo, unable to return to their home countries or secure safe resettlement elsewhere. Uganda currently hosts Africa’s largest refugee population—nearly two million people—and has been praised for its progressive approach, which allows refugees to work and access public services. However, aid cuts from major donors like the US and the UK have strained resources, forcing ration reductions and now this dramatic border closure.
The Guardian
