There is currently a massive influx of refugees from South Sudan into Uganda following the collapse of the Transitional Government of National Unity due the fighting that erupted on 7th July between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), government forces of President Salva Kiir, and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), loyal to the former first vice president Dr. Riek Machar. The July 7th 2016 crisis has continued to manifest the power struggle between Machar and Kiir on ethnic lines and has unsettled the already volatile young nation of South Sudan, as it led to the collapse of the April 2016 agreement (which successfully enabled the return of Riek Machar to Juba and the subsequent formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity). The recent clashes also led to the loss of about 300 lives and displacement of over 36,000 people internally, with about 100,000 people forced to flee to neighbouring countries. Due to the fragile nature of the political climate in South Sudan, Uganda will continue to receive refugees. 43,179 new arrivals are reported to have entered Uganda between 7th and 26nd July 2016 compared to 33,308 received since January 2016. As of July 26nd 2016, the total number of South Sudanese refugees registered in Uganda (RIMS) is at 229,176 spread out in the major settlements of Arua, Kiryandongo, Kampala and Adjumani.
ACT Alliance Uganda Forum has been responding through its members LWF and FCA. LWF has been focussing on Adjumani, where all the refugee hosting settlements are full to capacity, so there is an eminent need to identify new sites or consider the expansion of existing ones. FCA has been a major actor since 2015 providing inclusive education in emergencies for South Sudanese refugees with emphasis on children living with disabilities. FCA plans to construct 12 classrooms, 30 latrines stances and supply 324 desks in addition to facilitate capacity building of teachers in a bid to enable more refugee children attend school.