In Numbers
- 1,344,111 people assisted - 2,733 mt of food assistance distributed - USD 4.2 million in cash-based transfers - USD 122 million six months (Jan – June 2025) net funding requirements.
Operational Updates
Support to Refugees
• WFP provided food and nutrition assistance to more than 1.3 million refugees hosted in Uganda in November. A total of 946,077 beneficiaries received Cash Based Transfers (CBT) worth USD 4.2 million while 388,912 received 2708 mt of in-kind food assistance.
• To manage and prevent acute malnutrition, Maternal Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) programme and Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme (TSFP) were also implemented in 13 refugee settlements across Uganda where more than 6,690 children under five years received nutrition support to treat moderate acute malnutrition. Under the MCHN programme, 89,096 children under the age of five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls received 400 MT of specialized nutritious foods (SNFs).
Financial Literacy and Scaling up of Digital Cash-Based Transfers (CBT):
• By the end of December, WFP had provided digital financial literacy training to 68,298 (80%) of the 2024 target of 85,625 using the Bank of Uganda curriculum to complement CBT programme.
Digital and Financial Literacy Trainings continue to equip beneficiaries with knowledge and skills to manage the limited finances while making informed decisions on utilization of financial products and services.
Social Protection and Systems Capacity Strengthening
• To empower teenage parents to achieve self-sufficiency through skill development, WFP enrolled 1,439 teenage parents (1,385 females and 54 males) in vocational apprenticeship programs across eight districts (Moyo, Koboko, Madi-Okolo, Adjumani,
Yumbe, Obongi, Arua, and Terego). These programs provide hands-on training and experience to help participants build marketable skills. In December, the learners successfully completed their apprenticeship programme and graduated all the respective vocational schools.
• WFP successfully implemented the Disability Grant in Adjumani,
Arua, Madi-Okollo, Moyo, Obongi, and Terego districts. This achievement resulted from collaborative efforts among District Local Government officials. The programme aims to reach 97.8 percent of the planned beneficiaries and disbursing USD 134,295 cumulatively. The exercise highlights the value of multi-stakeholder efforts in delivering social protection programs effectively.
Climate Risk Management
• WFP distributed over 54 solar-powered radio handsets to radio listener groups across all the 9 districts of Karamoja to enhance early warning information dissemination. This distribution targeted mostly women who have no access to radio and was implemented in collaboration with Farm Radio International (FRI)
WFP works with the Uganda National Meteorological Authority to downscale and disseminate seasonal weather forecasts to last mile farmers in the Karamoja sub-region. Radio is the most used channel to relay weather information.
Asset Creation and Livelihoods
• To provide communities with reliable water supply all year round and improve household food security and incomes in Karamoja sub-region, WFP set up 15-acre community farms at Kaichom (Amudat District), Kakingol (Moroto District) and Kamion (Kaabong District). By end of December 2024, beneficiary farmers had set up vegetable gardens.
Nutrition
• In the month of December WFP implemented Nutrition specific and Nutrition sensitive activities aimed at managing Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) among children 6 – 59 months, Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women / Girls (PBW&G). A total of 1,305 individuals (707 Children Under 5, 598 PBW&G) were identified and enrolled as MAM clients. A total of 1,105 children were discharged from the Integrated Nutrition Program with a cure rate of 71.4 percent, non-response rate of 20.4 percent and a default rate of 8.1 percernt. Overall, 5,014 MAM clients were reached with 25.046 MT of Specialized Nutritious foods. WFP also carried out Nutrition sensitive and resilience building activities included Strengthening of the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato vine seed system by preparation of 07 rapid vine multiplication centres in Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Karenga, Napak, Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit districts.
• WFP implemented other Nutrition Sensitive Complementary activities that were conducted at Integrated Nutrition Outposts in Karamoja included onsite Nutrition and Health Education in all the 56 integrated nutrition outposts, participatory cooking lessons as well as promotion of adoption and consumption of nutrition products from locally available food stuffs.
Agriculture and Market Support (AMS)
• WFP trained 1,405 smallholder farmers on post-harvest management (PHM) such as post-harvest handling and household storage, among other areas, for capacity strengthening. In collaboration with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), WFP also conducted sensitisation to 200 smallholder farmers on Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) standards during agro-processing and value addition, to facilitate certification and access to national and regional markets. A radio talk show was held with UNBS to sensitize wider community on the importance of FSQ, acquisition of Quality Mark, and roles of consumers. Further, WFP supported to organise a business-to-business symposium by East African Grain Council, attracting 148 participants including agro input suppliers and financial service providers. This engagement helped provide solution to the accessibility, affordability and utilisation challenges for PHM equipment faced by smallholder farmers, and Micro and Small Enterprises.