disaster
Uganda: From food aid to farming: how refugees in Africa are building food security
By World Food Programme at ReliefWeb
· June 22, 2026
· 8 min read
Countries: Uganda, Chad, Ethiopia, Rwanda . 18 June 2026, Elshaday Gebeyehu, Pearl Karungi, Didas Kisembo and Petroc Wilton Refugee farming in Uganda builds self-reliance Daforoza’s life has changed radically in the 13 years since arriving in Navikale refugee settlement in the country’s southwest. T
Key takeaway It aims to move both the roughly 2 million refugees – Africa’s largest population – off humanitarian aid and to build self-reliance among vulnerable host communities.
Why this matters
The self-reliance model in Uganda's refugee settlements has significant implications for the country's largest population of refugees, as well as vulnerable host communities. By providing skills training, financial inclusion, and social protection, the model aims to reduce dependence on humanitarian aid, which is becoming increasingly scarce. The World Food Programme's decision to end support for nearly 1 million refugees and cut rations by 60 percent for the remaining 784,000 underscores the urgency of this approach. As refugees like Daforoza learn to farm, raise livestock, and manage savings groups, they are building a foundation for long-term food security and economic stability. This collaborative approach, which brings together refugees and locals, also fosters social cohesion and community building, as evident in the friendships and shared enterprises formed at Navikale. The success of this model in Uganda could have far-reaching implications for refugee response and host community development in other countries, such as Chad and Ethiopia.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ReliefWeb . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: disaster ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 8 min
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering disaster and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Countries: Uganda, Chad, Ethiopia, Rwanda . 18 June 2026, Elshaday Gebeyehu, Pearl Karungi, Didas Kisembo and Petroc Wilton Refugee farming in Uganda builds self-reliance Daforoza’s life has changed radically in the 13 years since arriving in Navikale refugee settlement in the country’s southwest. T
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Food Programme at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .