Crisis in Nakivale : refugees forced to drink water from dry lakes and wells for three months

SOS Médias Burundi

Nakivale, Uganda, March 9, 2026 – All the taps in the Nakivale camp have been dry for nearly three months, leaving more than 150,000 refugees, including over 31,000 Burundians, without water. Some have to walk more than three kilometers to fetch water from Lake Nakivale, others turn to springs used for grazing, located more than two kilometers away, while the poorest buy a 20-liter jerrycan at an exorbitant price. The UNHCR and the Ugandan government have made no promises to resolve this dire situation.

The shortage stems from several factors. In a large part of the camp that relies on a borehole, the generator at a central water source is faulty and needs to be replaced. The UNHCR reports that it is short of funds but is seeking a financial partner for this project. Furthermore, some water sources have dried up after more than five months without rain in the region.

Alarming health consequences

This situation is already having serious consequences for the health of refugees. Hospitals in the camp are receiving an increasing number of patients with typhoid fever, a serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection, usually transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.

Local leaders in the camp are calling on the UNHCR and the Ugandan government to act quickly to secure access to clean water and protect the lives of refugees. So far, the relevant authorities have not provided any concrete response.