Ronald Ayesiga and Musa Muhammad clashed over the rising cost of rent for refugees in Kampala, as urban migrants decried what they called exploitative housing practices during a conference in the capital.
Speaking at a meeting held under the theme “Promoting Peaceful Coexistence in Urban Refugee Communities” in Kampala, refugees said landlords in the city and its outskirts routinely charge them significantly higher rents than Ugandan nationals.
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan alleged that while they are initially quoted about UGX 800,000 per month, landlords often raise the price to as much as USD 1,000 once they learn the tenant is a refugee.
Musa, a Sudanese refugee, said his rent tripled within six months of arriving in Uganda after conflict erupted in his home country in 2023. “Every six months you expect an increment notice,” he said, adding that many refugees earning as little as USD 200 per month are forced to share single rooms to survive.
Eri Mary, an Eritrean refugee, said the lack of tenancy agreements leaves refugees vulnerable. “A landlord can wake up one day and announce a rent increase. Because you are already settled, you painfully pay,” she said. The conference was organized by the Norwegian Refugee Council and the European Union, among others, to explore solutions for peaceful coexistence.
However, Ayesiga, Lubaga Division Settlement Officer, argued that some refugees contribute to tensions, alleging that certain groups encourage higher rents and resist integration with host communities. Meanwhile, Lands ministry official Dave Khayangayanga urged refugees to demand formal tenancy agreements and called for greater awareness of tenant rights to curb exploitation and foster harmony.