
ADJUMANI, UGANDA — Nearly one in four residents of Madi Sub-Region are refugees, the 2024 National Population and Housing Census has revealed, highlighting the pressures on host communities already struggling with youth unemployment, food insecurity and poor sanitation.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) report, released in June 2025, puts the sub-region’s population at 550,449, with 536,731 living in households and 13,718 in non-household settings. The average household size is five people, and population density is 111 people per square kilometer.
Refugees make up 23.4% of the total population, a proportion driven largely by large camps in Adjumani District such as Nyumanzi, Pagirinya and the Maaji settlements in neighboring Obongi.
Adjumani: Refugee epicenter and largest district
Adjumani District has 297,894 residents, accounting for more than half of the sub-region’s total. It is home to 84,349 refugees — almost 30% of its population — living in 13 formal settlements. Nyumanzi Settlement alone houses more than 24,000 people, while Pagirinya holds over 18,000.
The district’s population skews young, with more than 55% under the age of 18. Youth unemployment is high, mirroring the sub-regional average, and 39.6% of those aged 15 to 24 are not in employment, education or training.
Despite improved access to water — 96.6% of households use improved sources — sanitation remains a challenge. Only 35.5% of households have improved toilet facilities, and 9.9% practice open defecation.
Moyo: Smaller but facing similar strains
Moyo District has a population of 144,223 in 28,923 households, averaging five people per home. It hosts refugee settlements including Alere and Maaji 1 and 2, contributing to the district’s demographic and economic pressures.
Like Adjumani, Moyo struggles with food insecurity, which affects more than 60% of households. Most homes rely on subsistence farming, and access to electricity is limited to about a quarter of households. Improved sanitation coverage is around one-third.
Obongi: Least populated, high dependency
Obongi District, the smallest in the sub-region with 108,332 residents and 24,505 households, also hosts a significant refugee population, particularly in the Maaji 3 and associated settlements.
The district has one of the highest dependency ratios in the sub-region, with children making up a majority of residents. Many households operate within a subsistence economy and have limited access to both electricity and clean cooking fuels.
Shared challenges across the sub-region
UBOS data show that across Madi, nearly half of all households (47.4%) are in the subsistence economy, producing primarily for their own consumption. Food insecurity affects 62% of households.
Energy use remains heavily dependent on traditional fuels: 61.3% of households use wood for cooking and 29.7% use charcoal. Only 1.6% rely on clean fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas. For lighting, 82.6% use clean energy — mostly solar-powered lanterns or flashlights — while grid electricity is available to just 4.6% of households.
Birth registration is low, with only 9.7% of children under five holding a civil authority certificate. Internet use is also limited, with just 5.5% of people aged 10 and older having gone online.
National and local planning implications
UBOS said the findings would be used to guide planning by both government and humanitarian agencies. The refugee presence, high youth unemployment and persistent food insecurity mean that Madi Sub-Region will require targeted investment in education, jobs, and infrastructure.
“While the region has made gains in water access and basic energy, these numbers highlight the urgent need to address economic opportunity, social services, and resilience for both host and refugee communities,” the report noted.