Government, World Bank evaluates the progress of joint refugee host communities

The government of Uganda in conjunction with the World Bank has kicked off the assessment into the implementation of projects under the Development Response to Development Impact Projects in refugee hosting districts across the country.

The project's objective is to improve access to essential social services in refugee host communities and settlements.

The 200 million USD program was rolled out in 2017 in livelihood empowerment, education, health, and road infrastructure in refugee-hosting communities. This was intended to harmonize relations between refugees and their host communities who had earlier complained that the government had prioritized refugee interests at the cost of the host communities, a move that had spewed conflict.

Uganda is a party to key refugee conventions and international human rights treaties, and currently hosts over 1.35 million refugees, the majority originating from South Sudan (75%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (17%), Burundi (3%), and Somalia (3%).

DRDIP is currently being implemented in 15 Refugee hosting districts of Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Obongi, Madi-Okollo, and Terego in the West Nile sub-region), Lamwo, in the Acholi sub-region; Hoima, Kikuube, Kiryandongo in the Bunyoro sub-region; Isingiro, Kyegegwa, and Kamwenge in the South-Western sub-region. 

Doctor Robert Limlim the Director of the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project notes that the assessment is looking into the scores and gaps of the project ahead of its closure next year in all the 15 refugee hosting districts.

Speaking at the stakeholders engagement in Kampala Dr Lim lim is urging district leaders in the benefiting district to set up special funds to be used in  maintaining the infrastructure so that it can last for generations.