The United States is providing more than $25 million (about 95.3 billion shillings) in refugee and food security assistance to Uganda. The aid, which forms part of the US government’s commitments, is being channeled through its foreign development agency, USAID, and the Department of State.
“This additional funding to WFP and UNHCR will support the provision of life-saving monthly food assistance, health care, education, and other emergency relief to the more than 1.6 million refugees that Uganda hosts,” said USAID Spokesperson Jessica Jennings.
USAID is contributing $11 million to the World Food Program (WFP), while the Department of State is providing more than $14 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
This support is crucial as Uganda, Africa’s largest host of refugees, has witnessed an increased influx of refugees in recent months. Last year alone, over 130,000 new refugees arrived in the country, primarily fleeing conflicts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Sudan.
The US is urging other countries to also increase their humanitarian assistance to Uganda in these critical areas.
“We urge other donors to join us in stepping up to support WFP and UNHCR to assist the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and other crises throughout the region,” Jennings emphasized.
Despite ongoing aid, concerns remain about the impact of recent decisions in Uganda, including the Constitutional Court’s upholding of most aspects of the Anti-Homosexuality Act.
“The United States is committed to ensuring our assistance is provided without discrimination, including in Uganda,” Jennings stated, emphasizing the need for protecting the dignity of all people in the country.
However, reductions in aid have been observed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and global events like the conflict in Ukraine have further complicated resource allocation.
“In 2018, approximately $170 per year was spent on each refugee; today, it is only $85,” noted Bruno Rotival, Head of Uganda at the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department (ECHO).
The EU allocated 27.5 million euros for 2024, down from 30.5 million the previous year. “All operations around the world suffer from a funding gap. More acute crises receive more funds, while Uganda, being a more stabilized country, perhaps suffers a little more in the provision of humanitarian aid,” Rotival explained.
Despite plans to transition Uganda from a humanitarian aid-based system to one focused on development cooperation, challenges persist due to broader global circumstances such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to cuts in overall humanitarian budgets by organizations like the EU.