Uganda Red Cross Society, with support from the Qatar Red Crescent, has distributed relief food items to 600 vulnerable Muslim refugees in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement during the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.
The distribution was officially flagged off by His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Grand Mufti of Uganda, at Old Kampala Gaddafi Mosque. Representing URCS at the ceremony were Ms. Irene Nakasiita, Director of Communications, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships, and Ms. Sarah Mutegombwa, URCS Coordinator for Muslim Affairs.
While launching the food distribution, the Mufti expressed gratitude to Qatar Red Crescent for its support, channeled through Uganda Red Cross Society, to aid fasting refugees
“I thank Uganda Red Cross for supporting our Muslim brothers and sisters in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. We all know how difficult it is to afford food given the current economic hardships, and for refugees, the situation is even worse. May Allah continue to bless and provide for you,” Mubaje said.
The food distribution exercise commenced the following day in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, witnessed by key stakeholders, including: Steven Bogere, the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement Assistant Camp Commandant, Peter Adori representing UNHCR, the General Secretary, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Kiryandongo District, Twaha Kasim, Sarah Mutegombwa, URCS Coordinator for Muslim Affairs, Isabella Epaja, URCS Kiryandongo Refugee Response Operations Manager.
Assistant Camp Commandant Steven Bogere thanked URCS for its timely intervention and called on more partners to support refugees, especially in light of declining donor funding.
Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement currently hosts over 100,000 refugees, with at least 100 new arrivals daily. However, due to funding shortfalls, the World Food Programme has been forced to cut food rations, leaving many refugees with less than 40% of their basic food requirements, and some receiving no food aid at all.
Halima Bhkeet, a Sudanese refugee and mother of three, is among those affected. A widow, she struggles to care for her two children with special needs. Since arriving in Uganda in September 2024, she has found it increasingly difficult to feed her family due to reduced donor support.
“At times, I have to go without food so my children can eat. My eldest child requires constant care due to his medical condition, which makes it impossible for me to seek work. Because of the heavy medication he takes, he must eat three full meals a day, yet we barely have enough,” Halima shared.
Many Muslim refugees, like Faida Hassan, a 19-year-old student, are contemplating returning to Sudan despite the ongoing conflict.
“Uganda is peaceful, but we struggle to find food. We arrived last year, but the dry season has made it impossible to grow crops. We fast, but we only have water to break our fast. Many of us are considering going back to Sudan, even though it’s not safe because we would rather die there with food than die of hunger here,” Faida lamented.
Kasim Twaha, the General Secretary of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council in Kiryandongo District, said mosques are overwhelmed with desperate believers seeking food aid.
“Many vulnerable Muslims come to the mosque hoping for help. Sometimes, through local mobilization, we manage to provide porridge, but the demand is overwhelming. People expect more than just porridge. We are grateful to URCS and Qatar Red Crescent for their generous support, and we encourage more organizations to step in,” Twaha emphasized.
URCS’s intervention reached 600 of the most vulnerable refugee households, benefiting approximately 3,600 individuals. The relief food packages, made possible through Qatar Red Crescent’s support, included: 4kg of rice, 2kg of sugar, 2kg of wheat flour, 1 liter of cooking oil, 1kg of salt and Dates.
Ms. Sarah Mutegombwa, URCS Coordinator for Muslim Affairs, emphasized the importance of this aid in helping fasting refugees.
“This food donation was made to support vulnerable Muslim refugees in Kiryandongo during this holy month of Ramadan. We thank Qatar Red Crescent for their generosity. While we acknowledge that the need is still great, we are happy that these people remain strong in their faith despite the hardships. We encourage more well-wishers to extend a helping hand,” Mutegombwa said.
The food distribution exercise lasted three days, concluding on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with priority given to pregnant women, the elderly, people with special needs, and child-headed families. The National Society remains committed to supporting vulnerable communities and responding to humanitarian crises. With ongoing funding challenges affecting refugee food supplies, partnerships like that of Qatar Red Crescent play a critical role in ensuring that Muslim refugees can observe Ramadan with dignity.