President Museveni has welcomed the new program dubbed “Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative,” a flagship development program supported by the Government of Denmark, aimed at strengthening the resilience of both refugees and host communities in Uganda.
While officiating the program launch, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanja said that “ President Museveni is aware of this launch today, and he is extremely happy that this program has been launched to strengthen the resilience of both refugees and host communities in Uganda.”
In her remarks, Nabanja said “It is a moment of great significance as we join efforts to promote sustainable development, social cohesion, and economic empowerment, particularly for women, men, and youth.”
She noted that Uganda has earned global recognition as a welcoming nation for refugees, hosting over 1.7 million refugees, the largest refugee population in Africa.
“Our refugee settlements, spread across various regions including West Nile, Acholi, and others, are home to refugees from countries such as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi , Somalia among others. Our approach is unique because we do not place refugees in camps; instead, we give them land, access to services, and opportunities to contribute to the economy. However, we must acknowledge the growing challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, and limited resources, which place additional pressure on both refugees and host communities.” She said.
She further said that the Glgovernment remains committed to ensuring both refugees and hosting communities are empowered, resilient, and self-reliant.
“This initiative marks another critical milestone in our shared journey to promote sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, and inclusive development for both refugees and host communities.As we launch the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative, I must emphasize the importance of effective and transparent use of the resources allocated to this project. We, as a government, have always underscored that the funds must reach those who need them most – the refugees and the host communities. It has been observed elsewhere that up to 60% of project funds have been spent on workshops, allowances, and capacity-building events. This is an approach that Uganda’s NRM Government does not endorse.” She remarked, adding that the government insists that the resources be spent on tangible outcomes that directly uplift the lives of the people we are here to serve.
Resilience is not built in isolation. “We need the continued support of our partners, the private sector, and civil society to make this initiative a success. I call upon all stakeholders to work together in ensuring that refugees and host communities live in dignity and prosperity.” As a government, we will continue to uphold our commitment to providing an enabling environment for refugees while balancing the needs of our citizens. Uganda remains a model for humane and sustainable refugee management, and with initiatives like URRI, we are taking bold steps to secure a future where everyone can thrive. She emphasized.
“I look forward to receiving regular updates on the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative, including information on the utilization of resources, the outcomes achieved, and the broader impact of the program. I would be grateful for your invitation to visit and witness firsthand the transformative work that this initiative will achieve.As I launch this programme today let us remember that this initiative is not just a project, but a collective commitment to building a future where refugees and host communities thrive together. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that this partnership leads to meaningful change, resilience, and sustainable development.” She concluded.
“Denmark is delighted to launch the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative. With a budget of approximately USD 40 million (approx. 145 billion UGX), the five-year programme seeks to empower refugees and host communities through climate resilience and inclusive development.” Said Signe Winding Albjerg, Danish Ambassador to Uganda.
She said “With more than 30 years of partnership between Denmark and Uganda, the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative, also known as URRI, reaffirms Denmark’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s refugee response. URRI – running until the end of 2028 – builds on the results and lessons from NURI the Danish funded predecessor programme Northern Uganda Resilience Initiative (NURI) 20182022.”
“The launch of URRI comes at a time where the refugee population is increasing and refugee and host communities are under significant pressure among other due to the effects of climate change. We are excited to embark on this adventure together with 12 strong partners representing local and international organisations with expertise in sustainable solutions for refugees and host communities” said the Ambassador .
She emphasized that with an increasing refugee influx and climate change impacts, land in refugee-affected areas is under pressure, leading to environmental degradation and the exhaustion of natural resources and ecosystems. As a consequence, the viability of agriculture, the basis of livelihoods for many refugee and host communities, is significantly challenged. The majority of the refugee population consists of women and children, groups that often face heightened vulnerabilities through discrimination and rights abuses. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated under climate change which disproportionately affects women and girls.
URRI aims to strengthen gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment in relation to agriculture, climate change adaption, and sustainable environmental management.
“The Danish Refugee Council specialises in working with refugee and host communities. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting the Ugandan refugee response alongside our consortia partners during this critical time of need,” said Samuele Otim Rizzo, Country Director of Danish Refugee Council.
An important part of URRI is capacity building of local organisations and authorities.
“Over the next four years, we hope to make a significant impact for refugee and host communities, building resilient communities. We are going to work hard to strengthen the capacity of our local partners and local authorities to carry forward URRI’s legacy in many years to come,”says Famari Barro, Country Director of Save the Children.
About URRI:
URRI is a five year programme running from 2024-2028 funded by Denmark.
Danish Refugee Council is the lead partner implementing the programme in West Nile (in districts of Madi Okollo, Terego, Koboko, Yumbe, Obongi, Moyo), with partners DanChurchAid, Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), Partners in Development and Center for Holistic
Transformation (PICOT), and Promoters of Agriculture and Center for Hoslistic Transformation (PALM CORPS).
Save the Children is the lead partner implementing the programme in Northern and Western Uganda (in the districts of Adjumani, Lamwo, Kyegegwa), with partners Word Vision, AVSI Foundation, Kabarole Research Centre Uganda (KRC), Uganda Network on Law Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET), Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT), Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL).
