The French Embassy in Kampala has announced the funding of a Food Aid Programme worth Shs2.1bn (€535,000) to improve food security and nutritional health in Nakapiripirit and Amudat Districts in the Karamoja sub region.

Announcement of this programme was made on Thursday morning at the French Residence in Kampala with a signing ceremony with France's ambassador to Uganda, H.E Xavier Sticker and Ms Amelia Savell-Boss inking the commitment.

Ms Amelia is the Country Director of ACTED, that will execute the programme in partnership with Caritas Moroto Diocese. The initiative is set to benefit 1,500 vulnerable households in Nakapiripirit and Amudat districts.

This one-year project, commencing in August, aims to enhance agricultural practices and reduce the prevalence of stunting among children under two years old through targeted Maternal Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) interventions.

Part of the programme's activities will include cash transfers and cash-for-work schemes for 1,200 highly vulnerable households, the creation of vegetable gardens for 1,080 households, and efforts to restore degraded environments. Additionally, the project will promote healthy eating habits in schools and provide diverse nutritious foods and agricultural inputs.

Speaking to UG Diplomat about this, Ms Amelia said it will involve a process where vulnerable households have the opportunity to earn an income from different activities.

The Aid Food Programme 2024 builds on the success of previous projects funded by France in the region. In 2018, the REVIVE project established a learning and demonstration center for regenerative agriculture in Nakapiripirit, which continues to operate and benefit local farmers. Another initiative under the Aid Food Programme 2022 successfully strengthened the resilience and nutritional well-being of communities in Amudat and Nakapiripirit.

It also adds to various food aid programmes rolled out by the Ugandan government and other development partners to address nutrition and food security demands.

According to details, the new project is expected to indirectly benefit 21,000 individuals, impacting an estimated 700 people per target community.