US commits over sh94.7b for refugee assistance in Uganda

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The United States (US) is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to refugees and asylum seekers with more than $25 million (about sh94.7b).

According to the press statement issued by the US Department of State’s Office of the Spokesperson, the assistance is being provided, in conjunction with the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help asylum seekers in Uganda.

The statement further indicates that PRM is contributing more than $14 million (about sh53b) to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while USAID is providing $11 million (about sh41b) to the World Food Programme (WFP).

“These additional contributions to UNHCR and WFP will support the provision of essential services such as health, education, protection, food assistance, and income-generating activities to the more than 1.6 million refugees in Uganda,” the press release states.

Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees with 1.6 million refugees, surpassing any African country. According to the statement dated April 12, 2024, Uganda last year received more than 130,000 new refugees from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and Sudan.

“We will continue to monitor programme implementation and assistance to ensure that there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or harmful activities.”

The US also said it is committed to providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to the refugee and asylum seekers without any discrimination.

“The United States remains the largest humanitarian donor in Uganda and will continue to support refugees sheltering in the country. We urge other donors to join us in supporting WFP, UNHCR and other humanitarian partners to assist the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and other crises throughout the region,” the statement reads.