At least USD 135 million 488 billion Shillings of this was provided by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR and multiple non-governmental organizations.
The United States humanitarian assistance for refugee operations in Uganda totalled USD 221 million (790 billion Shillings) during the U.S. government's Fiscal Year 2017 (October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017).
At least USD 135 million (488 billion Shillings) of this was provided by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and multiple non-governmental organizations.
An additional USD 86 million (311 billion Shillings) was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to offer for food assistance to refugees. More than three-quarters of this support was for local and regional procurement of commodities.
A statement issued by the US mission in Kampala indicates that the contribution supported protection and Multi-Sectoral assistance, including emergency food and nutrition assistance, medical care, water, livelihoods, and prevention and response to gender-based violence, to refugees in Uganda as well as their Ugandan host communities.
The refugee situation in Uganda has reached crisis proportions. As of September 2017, there were more than 1.3 million refugees in the country – including nearly one million who have sought safety from the violence in South Sudan.
The biggest number of South Sudan refugees poured into Uganda after December 2013 following renewed clashes between forces loyal to South Sudan President, Salva Kiir and his First Vice President, Riek Machar. This influx has placed increased pressure on the Government of Uganda, local hosting districts, and relief organizations to provide food, shelter, protection, water, and other basic life-saving services.
The Ugandan government announced in June this year, that it requires USD 8 billion (29 trillion Shillings to handle the refugee crisis for the next four years. According to the Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, at least USD 2 billion (7.2 trillion shillings) is needed annually to handle humanitarian and long-term needs of the growing number of refugees.
Uganda is also hosting refugees from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and elsewhere.
