Refugee Leaders in Uganda Strengthen Climate Action Participation

(KAMPALA, UGANDA) – Refugee leaders, government officials and international partners gathered at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, Kampala, from 17 to 19 September 2025, for a three day capacity building event focused on refugee involvement in Uganda’s National Adaptation Planning (NAP) for climate action.

Organised by Refugees International through its Climate Displacement Program, the convening brought together refugee-led organisations (RLOs) from across Uganda to enhance their role in shaping climate adaptation policies and ensure that refugee voices are central in national decision-making.

Participants included refugees and asylum seekers currently living in Uganda, who engaged in workshops, dialogues, and strategy sessions alongside representatives from the Government of Uganda, United Nations agencies and partner organisations.

One refugee leader reflected on the event:

“This convening was about more than just training; it was about recognition and inclusion of refugees. We now stand in a strong position to contribute to the NAP, and we thank the Government of Uganda, the Ministry of Water and Environment, and the OPM. They have shown that they see us as key stakeholders in building a more resilient future for Uganda.”

Discussions over the three days focused on:

+ Building the organisational capacity of refugee led groups to engage effectively in climate policy processes.

+ Strengthening collaboration between refugee led organisations, host communities and policymakers.

+ Exploring sustainable solutions to climate displacement and adaptation.

The event also provided a valuable networking platform, allowing refugee leaders to share experiences and explore potential collaborations beyond the convening.

Uganda currently hosts more than 1.9 million refugees, making it the largest refugee hosting country in Africa. Climate change increasingly affects both refugees and host communities, creating compounded challenges such as environmental degradation and resource scarcity.

The convening reinforced the importance of ensuring that climate action strategies reflect the lived realities and expertise of displaced communities by centering refugee perspectives in the National Adaptation Plan. The threeday event concluded successfully on 19 September 2025.