Hoima - Food Security and Climate Change

Hoima District is home to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, one of the largest refugee settlements in Uganda, hosting refugees primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Rwanda. Rapid population growth, shrinking land allocations, and climate change impacts have placed immense pressure on food systems and natural resources.

Both refugees and host communities face significant challenges related to food production, post-harvest handling, storage, and access to reliable livelihoods. Reduced food rations, limited farmland, and frequent climate shocks contribute to food insecurity and rising tensions between host and refugee populations. Despite ongoing support from UNHCR, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and other humanitarian agencies, gaps in sustainable food systems persist.

CHART-CR in Hoima focuses on strengthening climate-smart agriculture, improving post-harvest handling and storage, supporting livelihood diversification, and promoting sustainable food systems. These interventions aim to increase household food security, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance the resilience of both refugees and host communities to climate-related shocks.

Hoima District Thematic Themes

These thematic areas highlight the interconnected challenges of food security, climate variability, and refugee–host community dynamics shaping livelihoods in Hoima District.

  • ✔ Theme 1: Food Security

    • Availability of food in households and communities
    • Access to farming inputs (seeds, fertilizers, tools)
    • Nutritional knowledge and dietary diversity
    • Coping strategies for food shortages
    • Role of women, youth, and community groups in food security

  • ✔ Theme 2: Climate Change and Variability

    • Observed changes in rainfall, temperature, and seasons
    • Extreme weather events (droughts, floods, storms) and impacts
    • Effects of climate variability on crop and livestock production
    • Community awareness and perceptions of climate change
    • Climate adaptation strategies at household and community level

  • ✔ Theme 3: Refugee-Host Community Dynamics

    • Interaction and collaboration between refugees and host communities
    • Shared challenges in food security and water access
    • Social cohesion and conflict resolution strategies
    • Youth engagement in community initiatives
    • Knowledge and skill sharing in agriculture and climate adaptation

Our Goal

The overall goal of CHART-CR is to design and implement a climate change resilience model that increases the adaptive capacity of communities particularly youths and women to withstand climate-related shocks, stresses, and future uncertainties, while enabling them to lead locally driven, sustainable solutions.