Imagine a world where refugees don’t just survive—they thrive. This is the bold vision Uganda and France are championing in the Great Lakes region, urging a radical shift from traditional humanitarian aid to empowering refugees to stand on their own feet. But here’s where it gets controversial: can this ambitious goal truly replace the safety net of international aid? Let’s dive in.
During a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Advancing Inclusive Humanitarian Action in the Great Lakes Region: Leaving No One Behind,” French Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Virginie Leroy, shed light on the region’s daunting challenge: managing humanitarian crises amid skyrocketing refugee numbers and dwindling donor funds. “Uganda now hosts nearly two million refugees, making it Africa’s largest host country and the third globally,” Leroy emphasized. “The old model of relying solely on public donors simply can’t keep up with the scale of the crisis.”
Leroy argued that the focus must shift from short-term emergency relief to long-term, structural solutions that foster self-reliance and uphold the dignity of refugees. And this is the part most people miss: 2025 marks a critical turning point for Uganda, as the country grapples with a surge in arrivals from conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, and Somalia. Since January alone, Uganda has welcomed over 70,000 new refugees, with women and children making up 70% of this vulnerable population. Congolese refugees account for more than half of these arrivals.
The ambassador highlighted a glimmer of hope: the October 30 Paris Conference on the Great Lakes, where 70 countries and organizations pledged a staggering €1.5 billion to support humanitarian efforts. “This is a victory for peace and a beacon of hope for civilians,” Leroy said. The conference also secured commitments to reopen Goma Airport for humanitarian flights and establish safe aid corridors.
But inclusion, Leroy stressed, isn’t just about fairness—it’s about effectiveness. “When the needs of women, children, and persons with disabilities are overlooked, the entire community suffers,” she noted. This point is particularly contentious, as it challenges the status quo of how aid is distributed and who is often left behind.
Pauline Nadim, Regional Director of Humanity & Inclusion (HI), brought another critical issue to the forefront: the invisibility of refugees with disabilities. “Twenty percent of refugee households include at least one person with a disability, yet many remain unregistered and excluded from aid,” Nadim explained. “Most arrive without essential assistive devices or access to rehabilitation services, severely limiting their independence and access to education or healthcare.”
Nadim praised Uganda’s recent commitments following the Global Disability Summit, including the adoption of disability inclusion guidelines and support for refugee-led organizations. However, she issued a bold call to action: “Commitments alone aren’t enough. We must turn words into deeds—strengthening disability data, involving refugees in program design, and ensuring aid reaches those with specific needs.”
Representing Uganda, Patrick Okello, Commissioner for Refugees, reaffirmed the country’s Open Door Policy, despite significant funding gaps. “Every refugee has a story—a mother, a child, a father fleeing unimaginable horrors,” Okello said. “We’re committed to providing land for shelter and livelihoods, enabling refugees to achieve self-reliance through small-scale agriculture.”
Uganda’s approach stands in stark contrast to neighboring countries. “In Tanzania or Kenya, refugees need permits just to move a few kilometers,” Okello pointed out. “In Uganda, I don’t issue permits for refugees to travel 700 kilometers. Our model is inclusion, not isolation; empowerment, not encampment.”
Okello urged donors, including France, to advocate for greater global financial support. “We’re even borrowing to fund refugee initiatives,” he revealed. “Without borrowing, the World Bank doesn’t provide grants.”
The discussion underscored a growing consensus: humanitarian responses must adapt to the realities of prolonged displacement in the Great Lakes region. As Ambassador Leroy aptly put it, “Governments and humanitarian agencies can’t shoulder this burden alone. The private sector and community-based solutions must step up.”
But here’s the question we leave you with: Can self-reliance truly replace humanitarian aid, or is this shift a risky gamble for the most vulnerable? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation that could shape the future of refugee support.
