The United States has announced an increase of more than $25 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda.
This funding, provided through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will support programs managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Of the new funds, PRM is contributing more than $14 million to the UNHCR, while USAID is allocating $11 million to the WFP. This latest contribution raises the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Uganda to over $178 million since the start of Fiscal Year 2023.
The additional funds will enhance the provision of critical services including health, education, protection, food assistance, and income-generating activities for more than 1.6 million refugees residing in Uganda. These initiatives not only aid the refugees but also support the generous host communities across the country. Uganda is currently the top host of refugees in Africa, having welcomed over 130,000 newcomers in the past year alone, mostly from conflict zones in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Sudan.
The U.S. government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering aid without discrimination and maintaining stringent oversight to ensure that programs adhere to its zero-tolerance policy for discrimination or harmful practices.
As the largest humanitarian donor in Uganda, the United States continues to provide substantial support for refugees. It also calls on other international donors to bolster their contributions to the WFP, UNHCR, and other humanitarian partners working to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable populations affected by regional conflicts and crises.
