Host communities: The heart of any refugee response

LWF staff in Uganda talks about the power of compassion and shared responsibility

Imagine this: Your neighbor’s house catches fire in the middle of the night.

Without hesitation, you open your door, offering shelter and comfort. You may not have much to share, but you provide what little you have because it’s the right thing to do.

This simple act of kindness has been happening in Uganda for decades, but on a much larger scale. Uganda has long accommodated those fleeing conflict and persecution, with host communities playing a pivotal role in welcoming refugees.

Policy and generosity

Uganda is currently Africa’s most welcoming host country. More than 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers live there—many having fled conflict in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Eritrea. In 2024 alone, over 48,000 new arrivals sought safety in settlements across the country’s north and west. These figures highlight the significant humanitarian responsibility that Uganda bears. They also emphasize the vital role that host communities play in fostering peaceful coexistence and shared resilience.

Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, often lauded globally, gives refugees the right to work, access to education, and move freely. Complementing this policy is the vital role of host communities, whose generosity and resilience are the backbone of Uganda’s refugee response.

We are witnessing this generosity in our work for refugees across districts like Adjumani, Obongi, Lamwo, Kikuube, and Kiryandongo, in the North and West of Uganda. The host communities have opened their homes to refugees from South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond.

What truly supports refugees’ reintegration into these new societies is the willingness of host communities to live side by side with them. Host communities often share limited resources such as water, arable land, healthcare facilities, schools, etc., sometimes to the point of strain.

A place to call home

When refugees arrive in Uganda, families are typically allocated 30-by-30-meter plots of land to construct their shelter. In addition, host communities extend land for farming, allowing refugees to engage in agriculture at both individual and community levels.

This system provides refugees with a place to call home and ensures they can cultivate food for their families, contributing to self-reliance and a sense of stability after the trauma of displacement.

The generosity of host communities in providing land has transformed refugee settlements into more than just temporary shelters; they have become hubs of productivity and growth.

Although in most cases this generosity comes at a cost, they continue to share, motivated by an intrinsic understanding of humanity and solidarity. Host communities offer more than just resources; they provide the social fabric necessary for peaceful coexistence, ensuring that refugee settlements are not just places of survival but of dignity and recovery.

Support the host communities

In our work at the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), we witness these acts of generosity daily. Our approach recognizes that a sustainable refugee response must benefit both the refugees and the host communities.

For every borehole drilled, livelihood intervention, or health facility supported, we ensure that host communities are equally supported. This shared support strengthens the bonds between hosts and refugees, creating an environment where both can thrive.

To continue playing this admirable role, Uganda’s host communities need adequate support. As people displaced by conflict continue to arrive, access to food, water, and medical care remains insufficient in many areas. Recently, food rations for refugees were cut, which led to social tensions with already disadvantaged host communities. Their role is critical to maintaining peace and stability in refugee-hosting areas. The Ugandan government and international aid organizations are therefore calling for greater global support.

As Uganda continues to welcome refugees, host communities must remain at the heart of any refugee response, ensuring that both populations can build better futures together. In this way, Uganda’s story of a good neighbor becomes a model, reminding us of the power of compassion and shared responsibility in times of crisis.