[2] Established in August 2016 and closed to new arrivals by December of the same year, Bidibidi spans 250 square kilometers of communal land, primarily consisting of rocky, under-utilized "hunting grounds" deemed unsuitable for agriculture by the host Aringa community.

The refugee population is predominantly female, with many households led by women, and is ethnically diverse, including Bari speakers from Central Equatoria and smaller groups from other South Sudanese regions.

The refugee settlement faces severe challenges including inadequate access to clean water, understaffed educational facilities and a lack of educational materials, compounded by the lack of vocational training opportunities.The Bidibidi area covers 250 square kilometers of the eastern half of Yumbe District, stretching southward from the South Sudanese border and spilling over into Moyo District along the western bank of the Kochi river[3] Bidibidi is largely situated on underutilized "hunting grounds" deemed unsuitable for agriculture by the host community.

[4][5] Since then, the Ugandan government and non-governmental organizations have worked to create a settlement rather than a camp to host and contain the influx of the growing number of asylum seekers from South Sudan.

Formerly a vast, empty, arid patch of land nearby the small Ugandan border town of Yumbe, today it is home to some 270,000 refugees, most of whom have fled the violence and upheaval in South Sudan.

Upon arrival at the settlement, refugees received non-food items (NFIs) such as saucepans, solar lamps, mattresses, and jerry cans, but these have not been replaced and are largely worn out or broken.

In April 2019, it was reported that the camp featured five secondary schools in all the five zones of bidibidi with structures primarily temporary and facing challenges like deteriorating facilities and shortages of essential resources.

[13] Access to quality education is limited for both refugees and the host community due to a shortage of schools, classrooms, and teachers, resulting in low teacher-to-student ratios and a poor learning environment.

The absence of vocational training institutions further restricts opportunities for students who cannot pursue secondary or tertiary education, significantly impacting their future livelihood prospects.

[8] Child protection is a significant concern, with child-headed households lacking adequate services and young girls facing risks of sexual violence while collecting firewood.

[8] Inter-communal tensions among refugees, driven by competition for limited resources and cultural misunderstandings, often manifest as tribal conflicts, such as between the Dinka and Nuer or Kakwa and Pojulu.

Constructed from locally sourced earth bricks, the amphitheater-like facility includes a stage, recording studio, and features a roof designed to collect rainwater for community use.