When Aid Runs Out: Mediation, Conflict & the Crisis in Uganda’s Refugee Settlements

What happens when humanitarian systems are stretched beyond their limits? In Uganda’s refugee settlements, declining international aid, political exclusion, competition over scarce resources, and tensions between refugees and authorities are creating an increasingly volatile environment. In August 2026, violence erupted at Imvepi Refugee Settlement following a dispute over a local election, resulting in arson and fatalities. But the crisis goes deeper than a single political dispute. Funding shortages are putting food, healthcare, education, and other essential services under severe pressure—while competition over land and resources continues to intensify tensions. This episode explores how mediation can help prevent local disputes from escalating into violence. We examine the role of local mediators, structured dialogue, trust-building, inclusion, and multi-layered conflict-resolution strategies—and ask what it takes to sustain Uganda’s open-door refugee policy when the resources supporting it are running out. When political exclusion meets resource scarcity, mediation is not simply about resolving disputes. It can become a tool for rebuilding trust, protecting communities, and preventing the next crisis.