Gov't receives $150m grant to improve quality of life for refugees in Uganda

Government is on course with securing the improved livelihood of Ugandans and refugees living in host communities, with funding to set up schools and safe water sources, the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, has said.

Rugunda said that government was providing refugees with skills so as to enable them be of value when they return to their respective countries of origin.

“Government of Uganda has received a grant of about US$150 million to support refugee host communities and districts that have been hospital to growing number of refugees,” says Rugunda.

Rugunda was responding to questions raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Betty Aol Ocan, on the situation of refugee settlements in Uganda and influx of refugees during Prime Minister’s Time on Thursday 11 July 2019.

Ocan tasked the Prime Minister to provide accountability for US$537 million collected at the 2017 Refugees Solidarity Summit at Munyonyo, noting that Uganda had received US$1.5 million of the money pledged.

“We tried to ask about this money during a committee visit and the UNHCR office in Mbarara told us that it was only the Office of the Prime Minister that can ably talk about it,” said Aol.

Aol also raised concerns over the worrying state of health facilities around refugee settlement areas that had put the life of many persons especially children under high health risks.

She added that the free movement of refugees in and out of the country had also raised public concern especially with regard to spread of diseases like Ebola.

Rugunda clarified that the money had been well accounted for by Government of Uganda, in liaison with all other countries that attended the summit.

“Different governments from the around the world who contributed money, paid it specifically to project development and as such the money was used with the engagement of Government of Uganda,” said Rugunda.

Rugunda said that Government was doing everything possible to improve the conditions in the refugee host communities, adding that it is working with the international community to improve health and educational facilities.