Uganda and World Bank Launch $328m Initiative for Refugee-Hosting Districts

The Ugandan government, in partnership with the World Bank, has officially rolled out a massive $328 million support package designed to ease the strain on communities hosting the country’s large refugee population. Spanning across 13 districts in the West Nile, Acholi, and South-Western regions, the five-year initiative aims to upgrade local infrastructure and boost economic opportunities.

Funded through a 50-50 split of low-interest credits and direct grants, the second phase of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) will run through December 2031. Uganda currently hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, leading to overcrowded classrooms, overstretched healthcare centers, and depleted water sources.

Speaking in Kampala during a joint implementation support mission, DRDIP Director Dr. Robert Limlim emphasized that strict accountability measures will be enforced. He warned local authorities that the government will not hesitate to recall and reallocate funds if any resources are diverted or misused.

“Every single shilling that has been allocated must be used strictly for its intended purpose,” Dr. Limlim stated, stressing that corruption will severely undermine vital community development efforts.

The initiative focuses heavily on five main areas: expanding social infrastructure, restoring degraded forests and natural habitats, providing enterprise capital for resilient value chains, strengthening project monitoring to curb corruption, and maintaining an emergency response pool. Government officials hope that proper fund management will significantly transform public services and restore natural ecosystems damaged by heavy resource demands.

Read the original story on the Daily Monitor.