Tears Of Joy As Thousands Of Refugees Benefit From PAP X-Mas Outreach In Kyangwali Settlement

By Frank Kamuntu

Yesterday (20th Dec), thousands of refugees from various East African countries benefited from this year’s Pan African Pyramid (PAP) refugee outreach initiative dubbed “PAP X-Mas with Refugees.” The project is an annual humanitarian activity held every December in the spirit of Christmas.

This year, the PAP team took the initiative to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, located in Kikuube District in western Uganda. The settlement hosts over 130,000 refugees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, among other countries.

The PAP team was warmly received by Ms. Ninsiima Edidah, a dedicated Pan-Africanist and the Protection Officer at Kyangwali Refugee Camp, together with her colleagues. The camp leadership accorded the team full cooperation and support, enabling the successful implementation of the project.

Beneficiaries of the outreach included children, women, men, pregnant mothers, and other vulnerable groups, who received clothes, shoes, and other essential basic needs. These items were mobilized by the PAP team through generous contributions from well-wishers, Pan-Africanists across Uganda, and collections from local markets, primarily Owino Market.

While delivering the donations, PAP Speaker Andrew Irumba Katusabe emphasized that refugees are innocent victims of circumstances beyond their control. He stated that the conflicts forcing many Africans into displacement are largely fueled by external interests, particularly Western powers that destabilize regions to exploit Africa’s minerals and natural resources.

He cited the DRC and Sudan as examples, noting that ongoing conflicts, often driven by manufactured divisions, are sustained through external support and arms. As violence escalates, civilians are left with no option but to flee, seeking refuge in neighboring countries while their homelands are left vulnerable to exploitation.

Mr. Irumba also used the occasion to call upon refugees at Kyangwali to embrace unity beyond national origins. He urged them not to be divided by the countries they come from, but instead to recognize their shared struggles as Africans and relate to one another as brothers and sisters.

As of 21 December 2025, Uganda hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum seekers, making it one of the countries with the largest refugee populations in Africa. According to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) figures, as of 31 October 2025, refugees in Uganda originate from at least 34 different countries, most of them fleeing conflict and insecurity within the region.

Mr. Irumba further highlighted that PAP has previously visited and supported refugees in Nakivale, Bidi Bidi, Rwamwanja, Kyaka II, and Kiryandongo refugee settlements, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to Pan-African solidarity and humanitarian action.

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