CIVICUS discusses a crisis for refugee protection in Uganda with Fabian Kagimu, founder of Prism Empowerment and Development Initiative, a trans-led feminist humanitarian organisation that supports refugees, internally displaced transgender women, gender-diverse people and young people living with HIV.

Following a sharp drop in international funding, the government of Uganda has announced it will no longer process asylum claims from people arriving from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The decision marks a significant departure from the country’s traditionally open refugee policy and raises urgent questions about protection gaps and international sharing of responsibilities.

What led to the suspension of refugee status for new arrivals?

Uganda’s decision cannot be understood in isolation. It’s the result of a convergence of severe funding shortages, sustained high numbers of arrivals and a prolonged failure of international responsibility-sharing. International support for Uganda’s refugee response has collapsed, falling from hundreds of millions of dollars to a fraction of what’s required to sustain even basic services.

Uganda currently hosts close to two million refugees, many of whom have lived in protracted displacement for years with no realistic prospect of resettlement, and it continues to receive hundreds of new arrivals every day.

The refugee system is no doubt under immense strain, but rather than trying to secure increased international funding and support to address this crisis, the government has shifted towards a restrictive narrative, arguing that Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia are not at war and therefore people from these countries don’t require protection. This ignores the fact that beyond armed conflict, climate-related insecurity, forced conscription, identity-based violence and political repression are also valid grounds for asylum under international law.

What does this mean for new arrivals?

The consequences are immediate and severe. People are not necessarily being told to leave, but they are not recognised or protected either. Denial of refugee status pushes asylum seekers into legal limbo. Without documentation, they don’t have the right to stay legally, cannot access humanitarian assistance or basic protection and lose freedom of movement.

Lack of legal recognition exposes people to serious risks, including arbitrary detention and coerced return. It also leaves them vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and extortion, particularly in informal settlements. For many, life becomes a daily struggle for survival, fought amid fear and uncertainty.

LGBTQI+ and women asylum seekers, who already face structural discrimination due to their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, are disproportionately affected. Women face heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation, and may be forced into survival sex, particularly when food assistance, livelihood support and shelter are reduced. LGBTQI+ asylum seekers face compounded risks, including blackmail, harassment and violence, particularly in a context where homophobia is increasingly politicised.

The mental health toll is severe. These are people fleeing persecution who find themselves trapped in prolonged insecurity without psychosocial support. For queer refugees in particular, the fear is constant, driven by legal exclusion and social hostility.

How is civil society responding, and what barriers does it face?

Civil society organisations are doing essential work. Queer-led, refugee-led and women-led groups are providing emergency assistance, legal aid, psychological support and safety services where larger systems have failed or cannot reach.

These organisations are usually the first to spot dangers, document abuses and respond to crises. They understand what’s actually happening because they work directly in the communities affected. Often, they’re the only ones LGBTQI+ and women refugees will trust, because going through official channels risks exposure or retaliation.

Beyond providing services, civil society groups also push back against restrictive policies and make sure the consequences for real people don’t get ignored.

But they are struggling. Severe underfunding has brought many close to collapse. Shrinking civic space and the threat of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act have made it dangerous to support LGBTQI+ refugees, with organisations facing increased surveillance and fear.

What needs to happen?

Urgent action is needed on multiple fronts. Uganda must immediately restore access to asylum procedures for people from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, and provide interim protection for those who have already arrived but been denied status. The government also needs to protect the space for civil society organisations to operate without fear.

At the same time, the international community must help close the funding gap and expand resettlement programmes. Donors should provide direct, flexible funding to local and refugee-led organisations rather than only channelling money through large agencies. And there need to be real pathways out of limbo, whether through resettlement, work permits or other solutions that allow people to rebuild their lives.