China injects $1 million to support Uganda’s strained refugee system

Updated by HICGI News Agency at 1334 EAT on Thursday 30 April 2026

China has committed US$1 million (about Shs 3.8 billion) to Uganda’s refugee response, in what is described as its first direct humanitarian support to one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting nations.

The funds will be disbursed through the Office of the Prime Minister and implemented by Finn Church Aid under the China-funded Humanitarian Assistance Grant Project (CHAP). The programme will support refugee settlements in Nakivale and Kyangwali in south-western Uganda, which continue to receive new arrivals fleeing conflict and instability in the region.

The initiative was launched in Kampala on April 22 by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who said the support would provide urgent relief while also reflecting deepening cooperation between Uganda and China.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said the launch of the Humanitarian Assistance Grant Project marks an important step in addressing urgent needs while strengthening long-term resilience.

“I launched the Humanitarian Assistance Grant Project together with fellow ministers and partners. The project, supported by the Chinese government, will address immediate humanitarian needs while laying a firm foundation for long-term resilience,” she said, framing the initiative within broader diplomatic cooperation.

Nabbanja added that the programme reflects “the growing and mutually beneficial partnership between Uganda and the People’s Republic of China, grounded in shared values of solidarity, cooperation, and a common commitment to addressing global humanitarian needs.”

Uganda’s refugee policy has long been regarded as one of the most progressive globally, allowing displaced people to work, access public services and live alongside host communities rather than being confined to closed camps.

However, that open-door policy has placed increasing pressure on public services, infrastructure and humanitarian response systems.

According to figures from the Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda was hosting 1,961,518 refugees and asylum seekers as of 31 October 2025. This included 1,921,017 refugees and 40,501 asylum seekers, the majority of whom originate from neighbouring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Against this backdrop, the Chinese grant is being presented as a timely intervention. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja welcomed the support from Beijing.

“I commend the Government of the People’s Republic of China for this support, which further strengthens the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our nations,” she said.

Officials say the Humanitarian Assistance Grant Project (CHAP) is designed to go beyond immediate relief, combining emergency assistance with longer-term resilience-building measures, particularly for vulnerable families arriving in Uganda after traumatic displacement.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said the project adopts an integrated approach, with a strong emphasis on psychosocial support, community engagement and social cohesion as key pillars for building resilience and promoting peaceful coexistence.

China’s Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Fan Xuecheng, said the grant reflects an expansion of Beijing’s engagement in Uganda beyond infrastructure and development financing.

“While China has long supported Uganda’s development agenda, this project marks an important step in extending that support to humanitarian response efforts,” he said.

The programme will provide hot meals, dignity kits, psychosocial support services and play materials for children. It also seeks to strengthen child protection systems, establish safe spaces for families, and improve coordination among humanitarian agencies working in refugee settlements.

“We will ensure that new refugee arrivals receive immediate support and that services are delivered in a timely and coordinated manner,” said Wycliffe Nsheka.

The launch was attended by several cabinet ministers, including Hilary Onek, Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Henry Okello Oryem, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Lilian Aber, State Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.

For Uganda, the initiative goes beyond a financial contribution. It underscores how refugee management has become not only a humanitarian concern, but also a matter of diplomacy, international burden-sharing, and the global response to displacement pressures in Africa’s frontline states.

-Observer

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