A total of 9,115 individuals, including both nationals and refugees in Adjumani District, will benefit from improved access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), as well as conflict prevention, mitigation, and response services.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Adjumani Sub-program, in partnership with Safe Home Africa (SHA), a refugee-led organisation, has launched an 82 million shilling, one-year project to address these needs.
The initiative targets residents in refugee settlements such as Nyumanzi, Pagirinya, Olua I and II, Ayilo I and II, Elema, Baratuku, and Boroli I and II, along with neighbouring host communities.
Judith Mandera, LWF Project Officer in Adjumani, explained that the intervention is designed to strengthen community-based protection and ensure the sustainability of services in both host and refugee communities.
“We work closely with stakeholders to build the capacity of refugee-led and community-based organisations while ensuring service delivery in native languages,” Mandera said.
The project agreement was signed by Gabriel Chol and Geoffrey Okello of Safe Home Africa, alongside representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and UNHCR.
William Onen, Team Leader of the LWF Adjumani Sub-program, reiterated LWF’s commitment to Uganda’s localisation agenda, which empowers local actors to take leadership roles in humanitarian and development efforts.
“This agenda aligns with global frameworks like the Grand Bargain and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising sustainable solutions and resilience-building,” Onen remarked.
The initiative is part of the UPLIFT project (Upholding Protection and Localisation Initiatives for Transformation), funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
Adjumani District in Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the country, primarily from South Sudan.
The district remains a critical area for humanitarian efforts and development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of both refugees and their hosts.