Additional Context: This quote is attributed to Namahirwe, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who has been in Nakivale since 2016. Until sharp funding cuts to the World Food Programme, or WFP, took place in 2025, WFP assistance allowed nutritional needs to be met, freeing up her wages as the sole breadwinner to cover housing and children’s school expenses. According to a Ugandan government employee quoted by the WFP, single mothers like Namahirwe are heavily dependent on food rations and are among the most vulnerable refugees in the country. According to the WFP, poor food consumption among refugees has more than tripled in a single year, with 70 in every 10 households surveyed reporting having to reduce their daily meals.

Devex Researcher Note: Between 2024 and 2025, U.S. contributions to the World Food Program fell by more than half, from $4.45 billion to $2.06 billion. As of April 2026, the U.S. has pledged just over $538 million. The decrease in U.S. contributions thus accounts for roughly half of the total cut to WFP funds, with other donors also reducing their contributions.

Source: WFP