Namisindwa, Uganda – Susan Kimono is used to being on the other side of the conversation. As a midwife, she spends her days counselling women on family planning and helping them make informed decisions about their reproductive health. On World Contraception Day, she was the one making the choice.At a mobile clinic set up by Marie Stopes Uganda during the national commemoration in Naminsindwa District, the 33-year-old mother of two had an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted.For Susan, the decision is about timing. She and her husband want more children, but not yet. First, she wants to give the two of them the attention they need."This method helps me plan for the child I want to have, and for the ones I already have," she says. "When the gaps between children are short, you cannot plan for them well."She also has ambitions of her own. Susan became pregnant while studying for her diploma in midwifery, and she now hopes to pursue a bachelor's degree."If I go for a bachelor's, it helps me get time to concentrate," she says. When she is ready for another child, she can have the IUD removed.A choice for allUganda marked World Contraception Day on 26 September 2026 under the theme "A Choice for All: agency, intention, and access". The Ministry of Health led the national commemoration with support from UNFPA and partners.The choice of host district was deliberate. Namisindwa lies in the Bugisu Sub-region, which has one of the lowest modern contraceptive prevalence rates in the country (UDHS, 2022). The challenge is also national. An estimated 33.3 per cent of women in Uganda use modern contraception, and only 60.6 per cent of the demand for family planning is met with modern methods. At the same time, 27.2 per cent of women have an unmet need for family planning (FPET, 2026). Teenage pregnancy also remains high, at 24 per cent among girls aged 15–19 (UDHS, 2022).Speaking on behalf of the UNFPA Representative, Dr. Richard Mwesigwa, UNFPA Programme Analyst for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Maternal Health, called for family planning services to be brought closer to communities."Where a person lives should not determine whether they can exercise their reproductive rights," he said. He reminded participants that national plans ultimately come down to people, including a woman being able to decide when to have her next child.    "They built the skills in us"Choices like Susan's depend on skilled health workers close to where people live. For midwives Faugia Natukunda and Flavia Nakhumitsa, training through UNFPA's partnership with Marie Stopes Uganda has strengthened their ability to provide family planning services."They built the skills in us," says Faugia, recalling how the training taught her to insert contraceptive methods.The training also strengthened their skills in counselling and infection prevention. Today, the two midwives offer a range of contraceptive options, including pills, injectables, condoms, implants and IUDs.Both are now trainers themselves. By passing their skills on to other health workers in the district, they help bring family planning services within reach of more people.From myths to informed choicesThe midwives have also seen attitudes in the community change. Misinformation and fears about contraception have long influenced people's decisions."People didn't know. They thought family planning was something terrible, that it was meant to harm our people and our children but that is a myth," says Faugia.Counselling has helped address these fears. Flavia says more women are now seeking out family planning services on their own and appreciate the opportunities these services provide."Once a woman hears about family planning, she comes by herself," she explains. "A mother has the space to plan for her family before she has another child."Every pregnancy wantedUNFPA works to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted. In Uganda, this means supporting access to voluntary family planning through skilled health workers, accurate information and a range of contraceptive methods.For Susan, it meant a method that fits her plans for her family and her education. Her next child will come when she is ready.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Uganda’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT) journey began in December 2021, when the Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Malteser International, conducted the country’s first regional EMT training in Entebbe.WHO trained an initial group of seven Ugandan trainers, who then shared their expertise with health workers across the country. The training covered clinical case management, infection prevention, leadership, logistics, mass-casualty events and emergency operations. Uganda safeguards essential health services during Ebola outbreak response Maintaining access to essential health services is an important part of any disease outbreak response. Experience from previous disease outbreaks, especially viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks, has shown that disruptions to routine healthcare can lead to indirect health consequences, including decreased health-seeking behaviour, missed immunizations, interruptions to maternal and child health services, delayed treatment for chronic diseases and reduced access to emergency care.  At national level, health authorities, with support from World Health Organization (WHO), developed a continuity of essential health services plan and supported regional and district authorities to adapt the plan to local needs.

Outside her home in Bidibidi refugee settlement, northern Uganda, Suzan, a refugee from South Sudan, arranges tomatoes, onions and small piles of mukene – dried silver fish – on her food stall. The business brings in extra income that helps her feed her family.Each month, Suzan receives the equivalent of UGX 64,000 (about US$16) from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) through mobile money. The amount is calculated for four people at the rate for WFP’s 30 percent food-basket category, which is intended to cover only part of a person’s basic food needs. Nine people depend on it.Funding shortfalls over the years, and especially in 2025, have forced WFP to reduce food assistance to refugees in Uganda. In May 2025 alone, WFP had to cut food assistance for 1 million refugees, leaving about 663,000 receiving support at the time. Today, WFP supports 784,000 refugees.Cash cannot make Suzan’s assistance any bigger, but it lets her decide how to use it – and she has turned that choice into a small business that helps keep her family going.“For me, cash makes a big difference,” she says.Suzan fled fighting in Yei, South Sudan, seeking safety with her family in Uganda.“We decided to leave because of the fighting,” she recalls. “We wanted our children to be safe.”She initially received food from WFP. Collecting it meant walking a long distance and carrying the supplies home.“Before, I had to walk about five kilometres to collect food and carry heavy loads,” she says. “Now I receive the money on my phone. There is no lining up. It is very easy.” The transition to cash assistance for refugees came with WFP training in budgeting and managing money.“When we were told we would receive cash, we were trained on how to use it,” Suzan explains. “They [WFP] taught us how to plan for food and even how to invest.”She put that training into practice, buying food for the family and setting aside money to start her stall.“When I receive the money, I first budget for food – things like cooking oil, maize or cassava flour,” she says. “Then I use some to buy items for my business like onions, tomatoes, beans and salt.”Sales from the stall bring in additional money to help cover the family’s needs.“This helps me get extra income. It supports my family beyond the cash I receive.”Suzan also puts some of her earnings into a village savings group. How much she saves depends on how business has gone that week.“I try to save UGX 5,000 [about US$1.30],” she says. “Sometimes, if business is not good, I save only UGX 2,000 [about US$0.50]. But I make sure I save something.” Spending by families such as Suzan’s can also benefit the traders and producers who supply them. WFP research in four Ugandan refugee settlements found that food and cash assistance can support incomes beyond the families receiving it, including in neighbouring Ugandan communities. The effects varied between settlements and types of assistance.With support from European Union Humanitarian Aid, WFP is providing digital cash assistance to refugees in Uganda through mobile money and banking agents.Digital transfers also reach people quickly and safely, without crowding at food distribution points. “Cash transfers are at the heart of a more efficient and people-centred humanitarian response, empowering refugees by putting choice in their hands,” says Marcus Prior, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Uganda.Yet choice cannot make up for an amount set for four people and shared among nine. Her business and savings help Suzan manage that gap, but they have not removed her family’s need for food assistance.Suzan's family is not alone. More than 642,000 people in Uganda's refugee settlements face Crisis or worse levels of acute hunger, according to the latest IPC analysis, and acute malnutrition is expected to rise as harvests fail. New arrivals continue, with more than 147,000 refugees registered in 2025. WFP urgently needs new funding to keep food assistance reaching families like Suzan's.“I am happy that I am still alive,” she says. “This help allows me and my family to continue surviving.” Learn more about WFP's work in Uganda.Suzan’s surname is withheld for her protection. WFP conducted this interview in June 2026.WFP gratefully acknowledges European Union Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) for supporting life-saving food assistance, delivered through digital cash transfers, to refugees in Uganda.

Uganda is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by climate shocks, large-scale refugee displacement, food insecurity, and increasing vulnerability among refugees and host communities, particularly in Karamoja and West Nile. In response, a US$75 million allocation from the United States to the Uganda Humanitarian Fund (UHF) has been distributed among three UN agencies and six international NGOs to deliver prioritized, lifesaving assistance in areas with the greatest needs. The allocation is coordinated by the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with a focus on addressing malnutrition in Karamoja and supporting refugees and host communities in the Western and Northern regions and Kampala. The funding is supporting critical sectors including food security, health, nutrition, protection, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), while also advancing the Humanitarian Reset through more coordinated, efficient, accountable, multisectoral, and locally driven action to maximize the impact of limited resources.From 9–20 August, the OCHA Uganda-Kenya team together with the RCO, conducted a monitoring mission across Karamoja and West Nile to assess the impact of Uganda Humanitarian Fund (UHF)-supported projects. In West Nile, the team travelled through Palabek, Adjumani, Yumbe and Arua, visiting refugee settlements and reception centres and meeting district leaders, refugees and humanitarian partners. The mission highlighted how organizations including International Rescue Committee (IRC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Danish Rescue Committee (DRC), working alongside government teams, are helping communities facing food insecurity, malnutrition, climate shocks and protection risks.Palabek – 13 AugustWomen's Safe Spaces and Protection Services Palabek, Uganda’s youngest refugee settlement, has received no new arrivals since June due to border restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak. With an estimated 80 per cent of beneficiaries of some services being women, partners are providing critical protection, livelihoods, WASH and psychosocial support. At a women’s safe space in Zone 8, women described the centre as a place where they can seek counselling, report violence, receive referrals and access basic items such as soap, clothing and food. The centre also supports girls who miss school during menstruation by providing sanitary materials.

For Betty, a new arrival with no relatives in the settlement, the centre has provided more than material assistance. “I was stressed and could not sleep. I came here for counselling. I feel safe now,” she said. Women identified several gaps, including the lack of water at the centre, poor latrine conditions and the need for fencing to improve security.WASH and Community Protection LWF is constructing household latrines and supporting hygiene promotion, particularly for people with disabilities, older people and other extremely vulnerable individuals. However, residents reported severe water shortages, with only one borehole serving hundreds of households in parts of Zone 8. Long queues can mean spending several hours collecting water.Community-based protection structures are also playing an important role. Paralegals, community volunteers, psychosocial workers and GBV activists identify cases, provide basic support and refer more serious cases to specialised services. In June and July alone, two paralegals reported handling more than 30 community cases. Despite their contribution, volunteers highlighted transport challenges and the need for additional training. “Our work is about keeping children safe, supporting their wellbeing, and making sure families have the basics they need.” Felix Polyojara, Child Protection Officer, IRCAdjumani – 14 AugustReception and Protection for New arrivalsAdjumani hosts 19 refugee settlements and continues to provide life-saving assistance despite significant funding gaps. At the Nyumanzi reception centre, newly arrived refugees receive hot meals, accommodation, registration and protection screening, as well as psychosocial, health, GBV and child protection services. Although the centre was designed for stays of up to 72 hours, some people remain for as long as three weeks while awaiting onward movement. The centre currently accommodates around 800 people, with additional facilities under construction that will increase capacity. IRC child protection teams conduct rapid assessments and provide individual support to children arriving without caregivers. Since April, 83 unaccompanied or separated children have been identified as having relatives such as aunts or uncles, while seven had no known relatives.Women and girls’ safe spaces In Pagirinya settlement, women and girls can access psychosocial support, counselling, referrals and activities including baking, liquid soap-making and beadwork. Women said the centre has become an important place to share experiences and rebuild social connections. Women also highlighted the need for additional livelihood skills, including tailoring and sewing, and play materials for children accompanying them to the centre.Community Feedback and AccountabilityProtection desks in Boroli settlements receive and document community complaints, refer cases to specialised partners and follow up on responses. Food assistance remains the most common concern, accounting for around seven in ten complaints reported at the desk. Community volunteers have been trained to respond to complaints and help people understand available services. Protection cases are generally referred within a few days, depending on their nature. Yumbe – 17 AugustEstablished in 2016, Bidi Bidi is one of Uganda’s largest refugee settlements, covering around 250 square kilometres and hosting a large refugee population. As humanitarian funding declines, partners are increasingly supporting communities to move from emergency protection towards livelihoods and greater self-reliance. However, challenges remain, including limited access to land, food insecurity and heavy workloads for caseworkers.Supporting Caregivers and ChildrenParenting and caregiver sessions are helping refugees strengthen their knowledge of child rights, child health and positive parenting. Participants said the sessions have helped them manage stress and emotions, communicate better with their children and understand their responsibilities as caregivers. One participant living with a disability said the training had changed how she viewed and interacted with other people with disabilities.Cash Assistance for Critical NeedsCash assistance has helped vulnerable families meet urgent needs including food, education, shelter and health care.For 21-year-old Susan Aniba, support from DRC enabled her to return to school after she had feared her education was over. “At a time when I had lost hope and thought my education was finished, DRC gave me a chance to continue school. I am now determined to finish my studies, start a business and build a better future for myself.”
  Community leaders strengthening peaceful dispute resolution at Imvepi Refugee SettlementIn Imvepi settlement, humanitarian support is helping community leaders develop skills to resolve disputes peacefully and strengthen protection at community level. Thirty leaders received training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation and child protection. They now support communities in resolving disputes between refugees and host communities while referring serious protection cases, including rape, to specialised services. Leaders said the training has strengthened their ability to understand cases, remain neutral and mediate fairly. They also committed to passing their knowledge to others, including if they are not re-elected in forthcoming community elections. Participants called for further training to reach villages that were not represented in the initial sessions.
  Cash assistance helping families recoverCash support is helping families meet immediate needs while also investing in small livelihoods.“The support has helped me move from a very difficult situation to being able to provide food, clothes and basic needs for my children.” Selena Jengaa“The money has helped me start a small business by buying two piglets and two chickens, giving me a way to support my family.” Felix Lupai.“The cash support has helped us buy milk for the baby, pay school fees and buy goats, mattresses and uniforms. It has made a big difference for our family.” Tiu Kenzia Women and girls building skills and support networksAt a women and girls’ safe space, women affected by GBV, loss and other challenges access counselling, peer support and livelihood skills including tailoring, hairdressing, baking and soap-making. Women said counselling has helped them manage stress and anger, while skills training has given them confidence to explore ways of earning an income. The centre has also helped women establish a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), enabling participants to save together and invest in small businesses. However, a broken water supply is limiting activities such as soap-making. Women also requested stronger fencing and an additional safe space to reach villages currently without access. Looking aheadThe monitoring mission highlighted the importance of flexible, timely and sustained humanitarian funding to maintain essential services while strengthening community resilience. Across West Nile, refugees and host communities continue to face food insecurity, limited access to water and land, protection risks and reduced humanitarian assistance. At the same time, community-led structures, from women’s safe spaces and protection desks to trained paralegals, volunteers and community leaders, are demonstrating how locally rooted solutions can strengthen protection and resilience. As humanitarian needs continue to evolve, partners emphasised the need to maintain critical protection and basic services while investing in livelihoods, skills, accountability and peaceful coexistence between refugee and host communities.