The yellow jerrycans are still lined up every morning at water points across refugee settlements in West Nile. But unlike a few years ago, when boreholes provided a reliable source of water for both refugees and host communities, today many residents spend hours waiting for a few litres.
In settlements such as Rhino Camp in Madi-Okollo District and Imvepi in Terego District, prolonged dry spells linked to climate change have intensified competition over scarce resources, triggering tensions between refugees and host communities.
Rhino Camp, home to more than 202,000 refugees and asylum seekers, has been among the hardest hit. The Ugandan government provided land for settlement while humanitarian agencies installed boreholes and solar-powered water systems. For years, the arrangement worked.
However, recurring droughts have lowered water tables, reducing the output of many boreholes and leaving thousands struggling to access clean water. Residents say they often walk long distances to reach water points, only to find long queues stretching along dusty paths.
A June 2018 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) highlighted similar challenges in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, noting limited access to clean water, long waiting times and congestion at water points. The report also cited delays in repairing damaged boreholes and inadequate social services such as education facilities.
Today, many of those challenges remain. At some water points, solar-powered pumps that once supplied communities throughout the day now produce only a trickle as groundwater levels continue to decline. In Imvepi Refugee Settlement, women leader Sunday Joyce Joseph says climate change has increasingly affected livelihoods and access to water.
‘Where we are in Imvepi, the terrain is very rocky and very hot both day and night. The dry spells are very long. In 2024, the drought lasted about three months and everything we planted dried up. Last year was slightly better, but this year remains unpredictable,’ she says.
She adds that prolonged dry seasons dry up rivers and other traditional water sources, forcing residents to crowd around the few functioning boreholes.
According to residents, queues often begin before sunrise. Women and children leave their homes as early as 5am, hoping to secure water before supplies diminish.
As temperatures rise during the day, frustration often grows. Community leaders say disputes frequently arise when desperate residents attempt to jump queues or access water ahead of others.
In one recent incident, an argument between a refugee and a member of the host community escalated into a physical confrontation at a water point. Women shouted while children scrambled away clutching empty jerrycans.
Although such incidents are usually contained before they escalate, local leaders warn that increasing pressure on natural resources is straining relations between communities. Water is not the only source of conflict.
In districts hosting large refugee populations, including Madi-Okollo, Yumbe and Terego, competition over land for cultivation, firewood and grass for thatching has also increased.
Prolonged dry spell
The sub-region experiences a prolonged dry season from December to March, followed by another shorter dry spell around May.
During these periods, communities depend heavily on limited natural resources for survival. Ms Grace Neima Khemis, the chairperson of the Refugee Welfare Committee in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, says dialogue remains critical in preventing conflicts.
‘We have scarce resources such as water, firewood and charcoal. People struggle for these resources during both the dry and wet seasons. Whenever conflicts arise, we call meetings and encourage dialogue to resolve the issues,’ she says.
The Terego District Environment Officer, Mr John Engavile, says many disputes stem from the harsh realities communities face. ‘For most people in the settlements, it is a matter of survival,’ he says.
Similarly, Yumbe District Senior Gender Officer Jamal Kira says conflicts often emerge when residents cross into neighbouring communities to collect water, firewood or fruits.
‘Such disagreements occur, but they are usually resolved through discussions and community dialogue,’ he adds.
Development partners are increasingly warning that climate change is becoming a major driver of insecurity in refugee-hosting areas.
Speaking during a dialogue on peacebuilding and climate resilience involving political leaders, technical officers and refugee-led organisations, Oxfam Uganda Country Director Francis Shanty Odokorach called for integrated responses to the growing crisis.
‘Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern. It is already affecting livelihoods, food security and community stability across Uganda, particularly here in West Nile,’ he said.
‘When access to land, water, forests and livelihoods becomes strained, tensions can arise within and between communities. This is why we must invest in integrated solutions that strengthen resilience, promote inclusion and build lasting peace,’ he added.