Uganda to Launch $328 Million Refugee Support Program in October

The Ugandan government is gearing up to roll out the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project Phase II (DRDIP II) in October 2026. This ambitious program, valued at $328 million, is designed to benefit an estimated three million refugees and members of host communities across 14 districts.

Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Sam Engola, announced the impending launch during a session with the Committee on Presidential Affairs. He explained that DRDIP II aims to tackle the long-term socio-economic and environmental consequences of forced displacement.

The project will focus on critical areas such as improving social and economic services and infrastructure, enhancing livelihoods and economic opportunities, promoting environmental management, and building community resilience. Minister Engola urged Members of Parliament to actively support the program through oversight, advocacy, and community mobilization, encouraging constructive participation.

Building on the successes of Phase I, which reportedly improved access to services and strengthened livelihoods, DRDIP II intends to foster greater self-reliance. However, the committee raised concerns about outstanding projects from the first phase. The chairperson, Hon. Martin Mapenduzi Ojara, pressed the minister for details on when incomplete DRDIP I projects would be finalized before proceeding with the new phase.

Questions were also raised regarding the need for a comprehensive evaluation of Phase I’s impact and clarity on DRDIP II’s implementation plan and staffing structure. The ministry was further advised to ensure equitable benefit distribution and address issues of delayed fund disbursements and coordination with local governments, which had affected the previous phase.

DRDIP II is a collaborative effort involving development partners, including the World Bank, and targets refugee-hosting districts nationwide.

Source: Parliament of Uganda