Following a series of community forums where both refugee and host community members raised pressing challenges, on Feb 18, 2026, we convened a City Forum Dialogue with KCCA Central Division to advance practical solutions and strengthen collaboration.
The dialogue brought together 11 community leaders and 14 KCCA Central Division officials, including the Community Development Officer (CDO), the Town Clerk, and Heads of Departments. The meeting provided a platform for engagement between division-level authorities, relevant technical departments, and representatives from community forums to address refugee-related issues affecting both refugee and host communities in Kampala.
From Community Voices to Institutional Action
Participants worked in groups to identify realistic and actionable steps toward improving refugee inclusion within city systems. The discussions focused on strengthening coordination, improving access to public services, and promoting joint problem-solving within existing governance structures.
Key Action Areas Identified
1. Strengthening Economic Resilience
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- Supporting refugee ID registration through closer collaboration with OPM.
- Advocating for inclusion of refugees in government programs such as Emyooga and PDM.
- Promoting skilling initiatives and startup support instead of handouts.
- Encouraging savings groups and mentorship linkages to build sustainable businesses.
2. Improving Access to Public Services
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- Enhancing sensitization on available services and KCCA regulations.
- Improving service delivery in public health centers and schools.
- Strengthening partnerships between KCCA and NGOs to better reach refugee communities.
3. Institutional Inclusion and Policy Engagement
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- Exploring the establishment of a refugee desk at KCCA Central Division.
- Conducting community mapping and profiling of “hidden” urban refugee populations.
- Strengthening collaboration between KCCA and local civil society organizations.
- Promoting refugee participation in local governance structures.
It is important to note that, unlike refugee settlements, where formal leadership structures such as Refugee Welfare Councils (RWCs) exist, Kampala does not have specific leadership structures for urban refugees. This gap is what informed the design of this project: to create a platform where refugees can organize, engage constructively, and raise their issues collectively alongside host communities within existing city governance systems.
Policy Advocacy and Research
One of the key outcomes of the dialogue was the agreement to develop a policy brief advocating for refugee inclusion in national economic empowerment programs such as PDM and Emyooga. The brief that would be submitted through the CDO to the KCCA Director and subsequently shared at higher policy levels.
During the forum, we also presented a draft analysis brief examining the impact of funding cuts on urban refugees in Kampala. The final publication is expected in March 2026.
Moving from Dialogue to Action
The City Forum Dialogue marked an important step toward building stronger coordination between local authorities and communities. By creating space for open engagement and shared accountability, the forum reinforces the commitment to meaningful and sustainable refugee inclusion within Kampala’s urban development agenda.