A group photo with the Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Lillian Aber, during the launch of a report on bicycle use in refugee settlements in Kampala on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. PHOTO/ MOSES NDHAYE
What you need to know:
- Aber said fulfilling international funding pledges would help Uganda sustain its refugee response and support initiatives
The government has called on international donors to honor their funding commitments to Uganda’s refugee response, warning that inadequate financial support risks undermining essential services for more than two million refugees and their host communities.
Speaking on Thursday during the launch of a new research report in Kampala, the Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Ms. Lillian Aber, emphasized that Uganda’s celebrated open-door refugee policy requires sustained international backing to maintain access to basic services and improve livelihoods.
"Uganda continues to welcome refugees despite severe funding challenges," Ms. Aber said, urging development partners to translate their pledges into actual financial support. She added that fulfilling international funding commitments would enable the country to sustain its response and scale up practical initiatives designed to aid both displaced persons and host populations.
The research study, conducted jointly by World Bicycle Relief and Buffalo Bicycles Uganda in November 2025, examined the impact of bicycle mobility across three major refugee settlements: Bidi-Bidi, Nakivale, and Palabek.
According to the report findings, transport barriers severely impact access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in settlements where public facilities and households are separated by vast distances.
Out of 601 students surveyed, 298 were provided with bicycles. Among the recipients, 97 percent reported not missing classes, while also demonstrating marked improvements in academic performance compared to peers who walked long distances to school.
Commenting on the findings, Mr. Sean Granville, Executive Director for Partnerships and Country Strategy at World Bicycle Relief, called on humanitarian and development agencies to embed targeted mobility solutions directly into program design and settlement planning.
"Bicycles help eliminate the physical barriers that limit the effectiveness of investments in education, healthcare, and livelihoods—particularly in remote areas where reaching schools, health centers, and markets remains difficult," Mr. Granville noted.
He urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and key stakeholders to formally integrate bicycle access when designing future interventions for refugee settlements.
Ms. Aber commended the study, reaffirming that the government will continue exploring practical, low-cost interventions to address mobility and infrastructure bottlenecks facing refugee-hosting communities across the country.