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Until everyone is safe: Refugee protection must extend to mental well-being
Uganda’s approach to integrating refugees into national systems stands out globally. It allows refugees access to services, education, and livelihoods alongside host communities, fostering inclusion and dignity.
Joy Acom-Okello.
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Joy Acom-Okello
On June 20, 2026, the world marked World Refugee Day under the theme “Until Everyone Is Safe”. This provided a renewed opportunity to reflect on what safety truly means for forcibly displaced populations. Beyond borders crossed and shelter provided, safety must ultimately be measured by dignity restored, hope sustained, and the ability of individuals to rebuild their lives in full.
In my experience working with refugees for over 20 years, I have witnessed and observed the remarkable resilience of refugees and the silent weight many continue to carry. Uganda, as one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa, provides refuge to millions fleeing conflict and persecution from neighbouring countries in the region. Its open-door policy and progressive refugee framework remain widely recognised and commendable.
And yet, beyond the statistics and policy achievements, the realities on the ground are deeply human. In the settlements I have visited, I have met individuals who speak of separation from family members they may never see again, young people grappling with interrupted education and uncertain futures, and children who are adapting to environments shaped by displacement rather than stability. These encounters consistently reinforce a critical truth that displacement does not end with physical safety but instead unfolds as a long-term emotional and psychological journey.
Uganda’s approach to integrating refugees into national systems stands out globally. It allows refugees access to services, education, and livelihoods alongside host communities, fostering inclusion and dignity. This model reflects a strong commitment to shared responsibility and social cohesion, and it provides a foundation upon which longer-term stability can be built.
However, integration must also be viewed through the lens of mental and emotional well-being. Many refugees continue to carry trauma from experiences of violence, loss, and forced displacement. The absence of family support networks, combined with uncertainty about the future, often deepens feelings of anxiety, grief, and isolation. These are not peripheral concerns; they are central to a person’s ability to heal, participate, and thrive.
Children and young people are particularly affected. It is not uncommon to encounter children who seem to have adapted quickly to new environments, yet still struggle with invisible emotional burdens. This can manifest in various forms, such as violence at home and at school. Their resilience is undeniable, but resilience alone is not sufficient without sustained psychosocial support systems that help them process their experiences and build stable futures.
Mental health and psychosocial support must therefore be recognised as an essential pillar of refugee response, not an auxiliary service. Without it, even the most well-designed humanitarian and development interventions risk falling short of their full impact.
Uganda’s approach to integrating refugees into national systems stands out globally. It allows refugees access to services, education, and livelihoods alongside host communities, fostering inclusion and dignity. This model reflects a strong commitment to shared responsibility and social cohesion, and it provides a foundation upon which longer-term stability can be built.
However, integration must also be viewed through the lens of mental and emotional well-being. Many refugees continue to carry trauma from experiences of violence, loss, and forced displacement. The absence of family support networks, combined with uncertainty about the future, often deepens feelings of anxiety, grief, and isolation. These are not peripheral concerns; they are central to a person’s ability to heal, participate, and thrive.
Children and young people are particularly affected. It is not uncommon to encounter children who seem to have adapted quickly to new environments, yet still struggle with invisible emotional burdens. This can manifest in various forms, such as violence at home and at school. Their resilience is undeniable, but resilience alone is not sufficient without sustained psychosocial support systems that help them process their experiences and build stable futures.
Mental health and psychosocial support must therefore be recognised as an essential pillar of refugee response, not an auxiliary service. Without it, even the most well-designed humanitarian and development interventions risk falling short of their full impact.
The theme “Until Everyone Is Safe” challenges us to expand our understanding of protection. Safety is not only the absence of physical danger; it is also the presence of emotional security, belonging, and hope. A refugee cannot be considered fully safe if they remain alone with unaddressed trauma or psychological distress.
The responsibility to close this gap is shared. Governments, humanitarian agencies, development partners, host communities, and diplomatic missions all have a role in strengthening access to mental health services, investing in community-based psychosocial support, and ensuring that refugee response systems are designed with the whole person in mind.
Uganda’s continued leadership as a host to millions of refugees offers both inspiration and responsibility. It demonstrates what is possible when inclusion is prioritised, while also reminding us that the journey towards comprehensive well-being is ongoing.
As we continue to reflect on this year’s World Refugee Day, the call is clear: we must move beyond survival and inclusion towards a more complete vision of safety, one that embraces healing, dignity, and hope.
Until every refugee is not only safe in place, but also supported in mind and spirit, our collective work remains unfinished.
Policy Officer Humanitarian Affairs and Migration
Email: acomokello@gmail.com
The responsibility to close this gap is shared. Governments, humanitarian agencies, development partners, host communities, and diplomatic missions all have a role in strengthening access to mental health services, investing in community-based psychosocial support, and ensuring that refugee response systems are designed with the whole person in mind.
Uganda’s continued leadership as a host to millions of refugees offers both inspiration and responsibility. It demonstrates what is possible when inclusion is prioritised, while also reminding us that the journey towards comprehensive well-being is ongoing.
As we continue to reflect on this year’s World Refugee Day, the call is clear: we must move beyond survival and inclusion towards a more complete vision of safety, one that embraces healing, dignity, and hope.
Until every refugee is not only safe in place, but also supported in mind and spirit, our collective work remains unfinished.
Policy Officer Humanitarian Affairs and Migration
Email: acomokello@gmail.com