A call to prioritise support for unaccompanied refugee children in Uganda

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OPINION

By Wilson Kwikiriza

Uganda is home to one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with more than 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers, over half of whom are children. Among them are over 47,000 unaccompanied and separated child minors who have crossed borders without parents or guardians or have been separated during flight.

These children are found across various refugee settlements in the country, with particularly high numbers in Bidibidi and Imvepi in northern Uganda, as well as Rwamwanja, Kyaka II, and Kyangwali in western Uganda. For example, Bidibidi hosts over 285,000 refugees majority being from South Sudan, including more than 6,000 unaccompanied minors, while Rwamwanja accommodates over 100,000 refugees, the majority being women and children. Kyaka II and Kyangwali have also recorded significant numbers of vulnerable children from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These numbers reveal more than a humanitarian crisis; they highlight a national responsibility. Uganda has built a global reputation for its progressive refugee policy, but this generosity must be matched with structured and deliberate interventions to protect children who arrive with little more than their courage.

Unaccompanied refugee minors face heightened risks of exploitation, abuse, child labour, and early marriage. If not adequately supported, they risk falling through the cracks of humanitarian response systems, with long-term social consequences. Prioritising their protection, education, and psychosocial well-being is therefore not only a moral obligation but a strategic investment in Uganda’s social fabric, peace, and development.

As a PhD researcher in Social Work studying agency and the lived experiences of unaccompanied minors in one of the Settlements, I have witnessed their remarkable resilience. These children are not passive victims; they support one another, adapt quickly to survive, and show a strong desire to rebuild their lives. They are active agents of change, capable of contributing to both refugee and host communities if given the right support. Education, psychosocial care, and meaningful integration can help them unlock their potential and contribute to a stable and prosperous society.

Uganda’s leadership in refugee protection offers a powerful opportunity to set an example for the continent and the world. By prioritising unaccompanied refugee minors in settlements like Bidibidi, Imvepi, Rwamwanja, Kyaka II, and Kyangwali, the government can turn compassion into concrete action, ensuring that these children live with dignity, grow with hope, and shape a better shared future for all.

A Call to Action

Supporting unaccompanied refugee minors requires far more than goodwill or short-term humanitarian assistance. It demands deliberate, structured, and sustainable interventions that uphold their dignity, safeguard their rights, and enable them to realise their full potential. These children face extraordinary vulnerabilities, but they also possess remarkable resilience and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society when given the right support. For this reason, the Government of Uganda, working closely with development partners, humanitarian agencies, and civil society, must translate existing commitments into concrete actions.

A critical first step is strengthening child protection systems. Many unaccompanied minors arrive in Uganda without legal guardians, leaving them highly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Weak or overstretched protection systems often fail to identify and respond adequately to their specific needs. To address this gap, the government and its partners should establish robust case management systems, increase the number of trained social workers, and ensure that each child is placed in a safe and supportive environment. Stronger protection structures would significantly reduce the risks of trafficking, early and forced marriage, child labour, and other forms of abuse that threaten children’s safety and well-being.

Equally important is guaranteeing inclusive access to education and vocational skills. Education remains a powerful tool for empowerment and long-term self-reliance. When unaccompanied minors are provided with opportunities to learn, they gain not only knowledge but also a sense of hope and purpose. Government and partners must ensure that these children have unhindered access to quality education from primary through tertiary levels.

Furthermore, expanding vocational training for older minors would equip them with practical, marketable skills that enhance their ability to support themselves and contribute to their communities. Such interventions reduce dependency on humanitarian aid and promote sustainable development.

In addition to education, expanding psychosocial and mental health support is vital. Many unaccompanied minors have endured traumatic experiences, including conflict, displacement, and the loss of family members. Without adequate psychosocial care, these experiences can have lasting effects on their emotional and psychological well-being.

Providing trauma counselling, community-based mental health support, and safe spaces for healing can help these children rebuild their self-esteem, regain a sense of safety, and focus on their future. Mental health and psychosocial care should be integrated as a core component of all refugee support programs rather than treated as a secondary service.

Furthermore, meaningful support must go hand in hand with promoting integration with host communities. Unaccompanied minors should not live in isolation from the society around them. Integration efforts such as joint learning programs, sports activities, cultural exchanges, and community development projects help build trust, tolerance, and social cohesion between refugees and Ugandans. Such initiatives reduce tensions, foster mutual understanding, and enable children to feel accepted and valued. This inclusive approach benefits both refugees and host communities, creating more stable and harmonious local environments.

Lastly, it is essential to involve refugee children in decisions that affect their lives. These children are not passive beneficiaries; they are experts in their own experiences. Their perspectives provide valuable insights that can make programs more responsive, relevant, and effective.

Involving them in community meetings, child protection committees, and program design processes ensures that their voices are heard and their needs accurately represented. This participatory approach also enhances accountability among service providers and empowers children to take ownership of their lives.

Turning commitments into meaningful action requires a holistic, coordinated, and child-centred approach. Strengthening protection systems, ensuring access to education, prioritising psychosocial support, promoting integration, and amplifying children’s voices are not isolated interventions; they are interconnected pillars of an effective protection and empowerment strategy.

By implementing these measures, Uganda and its partners can create an enabling environment where unaccompanied refugee minors are not merely protected but are also empowered to thrive and contribute to society. This is not only a moral and legal obligation but also an investment in the country’s social cohesion, stability, and shared future.

The writer is a PhD researcher in Social Work, Kyambogo University