Uganda has warned that escalating conflicts in the Great Lakes region are increasing pressure on its resources, driving up refugee numbers, worsening living conditions and fueling gender-based violence.
Commissioner for Gender and Women Affairs Angela Nakafeero said instability in neighbouring countries continues to pose serious risks to Uganda's stability, despite decades of internal peace.
She was speaking during a media briefing on the Second Regional Action Plan on Peace and Security and the Gender Barometer for the Great Lakes Region, organised by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in collaboration with the Government of Uganda, civil society organisations and development partners."The conflicts in neighbouring countries have serious implications for stability within Uganda," she said.
She warned that declining funding has led to reduced food rations and limited support in refugee settlements, leaving many struggling to survive. Vulnerable groups, including students, are increasingly unable to afford basic needs such as school requirements.
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Nakafeero also raised concern over environmental degradation in refugee-hosting areas, citing deforestation driven by demand for firewood and other resources.
She further revealed that gender-based violence is more prevalent in refugee settlements than at the national level, based on recent research findings.
In response, government is implementing a national action plan on women, peace and security, focusing on prevention and response to gender-based violence, climate action and promoting women's participation in peace-building processes.
Nakafeero said Uganda is supporting regional peace efforts, including mediation processes involving women in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasizing that inclusive dialogue is critical to long-term stability.
She stressed that strengthening women's participation at both national and regional levels remains key to addressing conflict and its impact across the Great Lakes region.
At the regional level, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has taken steps to harmonize these national strategies through its Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. Flaviana Charles Mauta, ICGLR Director for Gender, Women and Children, Humanitarian, and Social Affairs, outlined the plan during a media briefing at the ICGLR headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi. She confirmed that 11 of the 12 member states have finalized their national action plans, with the final country close to completion.
Charles said the regional framework is guided by the four pillars of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, emphasizing women's participation in peacebuilding, leadership, decision-making, and economic empowerment as critical to effective exercise of rights and community development.
She added that empowering women economically enables them to participate meaningfully in leadership roles and in decision-making processes at local, national, and regional levels.
Prevention forms another cornerstone of the plan. Charles explained that early warning systems will be established to detect and address potential conflicts before they escalate, with a central "situation room" tracking signs of unrest across member states.
"If there is no peace, no one is safe, including the leaders, women, and children," she said, highlighting the need for proactive conflict monitoring.
Protection and support for survivors of war, especially victims of sexual and gender-based violence, is a further priority. Charles warned that without timely psychosocial, legal, and economic support, survivors risk marginalization and long-term destabilization of their communities.
She noted the devastating impact of conflict on women and children, many of whom endure abuse in front of family members and neighbors, which can leave lasting psychological and social scars.
The ICGLR plan also emphasizes monitoring and accountability, with tools such as the Gender Barometer designed to track the implementation of national action plans down to grassroots levels, where the most vulnerable populations reside.
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Charles stressed that coordinated action across all levels of governance is essential to ensure that regional commitments translate into tangible outcomes for affected communities.
Both Nakafeero and Charles underscored the interconnectedness of Uganda's national challenges with regional stability. They emphasised that addressing the refugee crisis, supporting survivors of conflict, mitigating environmental impacts, and strengthening women's leadership are mutually reinforcing strategies for promoting peace and security across the Great Lakes region.
"The Regional Action Plan is designed to ensure that victims are supported, women are empowered to participate meaningfully, and conflicts are prevented before they escalate," Charles said, underscoring the ICGLR's commitment to translating high-level policy into actionable programs.
Uganda's engagement at both national and regional levels demonstrates a holistic approach to addressing the ripple effects of conflict, where gender-sensitive interventions, economic empowerment, and climate action are central to fostering resilient and stable communities.
