Koboko, Uganda – July 6, 2025
After fleeing armed conflict in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a growing number of single refugee mothers in Uganda’s West Nile region are now facing new battles — this time for survival.
Having initially found relative stability in refugee settlements like Lobule and Waju, these women are now grappling with reduced humanitarian support, forcing them to make desperate moves to urban centers like Koboko in search of income and better livelihoods. But life in town has brought with it a fresh set of harsh realities.
Among them is Salima Mayunga, who escaped violence in Kisangani, DR Congo in 2003. She settled in Lobule with her four children after losing her husband during the conflict. However, in recent months, she was compelled to leave the settlement due to worsening conditions — including a sharp decline in food assistance and rising living costs. She now lives in Koboko town.
“Rent is high, food is expensive, and school fees are beyond what I can afford,” Salima said in Kiswahili. “We thought we would find better chances here, but life is only getting harder.”
Another refugee, Kahambu Makile, a single mother of three from Goma, has lived in Uganda for over 10 years. After moving from Waju settlement to Koboko, she now survives on casual labor with her sister — digging gardens, fetching water, or doing laundry for local families.
“Some days we sleep hungry,” she said, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
Rose Mary Ariye, a South Sudanese refugee and mother of five, echoed similar struggles. The cost of renting a small home and paying for her children's education has become overwhelming. “The help we used to get is no longer there. It’s now just a daily hustle to survive,” she said.
According to local reports, refugee financial aid has plummeted to as low as UGX 12,000 per household per month — a figure that hardly sustains a family for even a few days. The withdrawal of several donors and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic have compounded the situation.
This has led to a wave of refugees abandoning camps in search of work in urban areas. But instead of finding relief, many now face overcrowded housing, increased competition for low-paying jobs, and limited access to services.
Their movement into urban centers like Koboko is also putting pressure on local governments, whose already stretched resources must now support growing refugee populations without corresponding increases in funding or infrastructure.
Humanitarian organizations and local leaders are calling for renewed attention and targeted support for urban refugees, especially single mothers, who face a unique set of vulnerabilities.
“Their resilience is admirable, but the burden is too heavy without proper support systems,” one community leader in Koboko told Daily West Nile.
As the crisis deepens, refugee mothers like Salima, Kahambu, and Rose Mary continue to hope that the world will once again pay attention — not just to their past of fleeing war, but to their present-day fight for dignity and survival.
For more in-depth stories from Uganda’s West Nile region, stay with Daily West Nile.
