Japan contributes approximately US$ 6 million to support refugees and host communities in multiple fields in Uganda

The support has been channeled through the United Nations agencies: the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Ambassador Sasayama delivered a speech, stating: “I am honored to announce Japan’s contribution under the supplementary budget for 2025-2026 to the Government of Uganda with a total amount of approximately US$ 6 million.” Commending Uganda’s generosity in hosting over 1.9 million refugees as an “island of peace,” he highlighted that “her commitment to peace and humanitarian values is especially commendable at a time when the world is undergoing the most significant structural changes since the postwar period, marked by shifts in the balance of power and escalating conflicts and tensions, with the security environment becoming increasingly challenging.”

Mr. Douglas Asiimwe, Assistant Commissioner for Refugees at the Office of the Prime Minister, who attended the press conference, said, “I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Japan for their generous support through the United Nations.” He continued, “Japan has been a trusted and strategic partner in advancing Uganda’s refugee response,” and added, “We will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure that Japan’s valuable support achieves the greatest possible impact in supporting both refugees and host communities in a sustainable manner.”

“Japan’s Supplementary Budget allocations have consistently supported the work of the United Nations in Uganda over the years. The newly announced contribution of about US$ 6 million is both timely and critical. It will strengthen assistance for refugees and the communities hosting them,” said the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Leonard Zulu. He added that the new contributions specifically boost nutrition response efforts, enhance protection for newly arrived populations, and establish community managed solar energy hubs serving both refugee and host community spaces. 

Present at the press conference were representatives of the involved UN agencies: Mr. Bernard Inkoom (UNHCR Uganda, Deputy Representative a.i.); Mr. Marcus Prior (WFP Uganda, Deputy Country Director); and Mr. Sanusi Savage (IOM Uganda, Chief of Mission).

UNHCR has received US$ 2.03 million in support of the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan (UCRRP) 2026-2030. This funding will enable UNHCR to provide protection and assistance for 160,000 new arrivals in reception facilities across Uganda during 2026. The contribution will play a crucial role in ensuring that new arrivals are registered and are provided with basic services including access to clean water and medical care. Protection services including mental health support for children and women who are at risk or who have experienced trauma will also be provided. The intervention will also enable the distribution of essential assistance packages including blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets and soap, to meet the immediate basic needs of new arrivals. The funding represents a significant act of solidarity with Uganda, reinforcing the commitment to humanitarian assistance and welfare of forcibly displaced people.

WFP has received a US$ 666,666 contribution from Japan, which will fund essential and lifesaving nutritional support to newly arrived refugees in Uganda. This contribution will help combat acute food insecurity and malnutrition among 13,000 children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, through hot meals and specialized nutritious foods at reception centers, designated border points and settlements. As Uganda nears 2 million refugees, continued arrivals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan make Japan’s timely support critical for those most at risk.

IOM, in partnership with the Government of Uganda, is launching a new one-year project: Building Sustainable Livelihoods through Community Energy Hubs in West Nile Refugee Settlements. The US$ 1 million initiative will establish two solar-powered energy hubs in Yumbe District, one in a refugee settlement and one in a host community, to expand access to clean, reliable energy and support local economic activity. The hubs will enable access to power for services such as cold storage, milling, irrigation, and digital connectivity, while strengthening community governance structures, skills development, and cooperative models. The project will also link energy access to climate-smart agriculture and local value chains, with a strong focus on women- and youth-led enterprises and solutions that contribute to reducing long-term reliance on food assistance.

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