Uganda

Due largely to conflict and subsequent instability in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda is currently home to more than 1.9 million refugees. This is the sixth largest refugee population in the world. According to a new IPC alert released this week, despite Uganda’s welcome of people fleeing neighboring countries, the rapid growth of the refugee population has placed significant strain on the country’s systems. As a result, an estimated 37% population is expected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity through February 2026.

Despite Uganda’s rapidly growing economy, as many as 34.6 million people continue to face food insecurity. More than 72 percent of the country’s population cannot afford a healthy diet, and both undernourishment and overweight/obesity among adults pose a growing challenge. To successfully confront these challenges and encourage the sustainable transformation of Uganda’s agrifood system, stronger policies and enhanced collaboration are needed, according to a recent brief from FAO.

Soil degradation, mainly caused by soil erosion and nutrient depletion, is a key factor undermining agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries. Soil degradation is a key problem in Uganda, which has seen growing soil health challenges. To address this issue, IFPRI, the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains, and Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) have initiated a new round of a long-term, gender-disaggregated soil health survey in Uganda.

Over the past few decades, Uganda’s dairy sector has transformed from mostly subsistence activities into a dynamic and modern industry—a shift enabled by government initiatives, private sector investments, and the introduction of better technologies and practices. But the industry still faces challenges, particularly in establishing a market for high-quality milk.

As many as 440 million youths (defined as people under the age of 30) are expected to join Africa’s labor market by 2030. If the labor market cannot support this enormous population with adequate employment and livelihood opportunities, it poses serious threats to the region’s stability, economic development, and food security.