Uganda

AAH-I started operations in Uganda in 1993 in West Nile when it launched a humanitarian assistance project for more 80,000 South Sudan refugees. Since then, the country programme has been working in five refugee settlements (Moyo, Adjumani, Rwamwanja, Kyangwali and Kiryandongo) through a comprehensive multi-sectoral programme funded by UNCHR. Currently, AAH Uganda is implementing humanitarian assistance programs for about 300,000 refugees, asylum seekers from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya and an equal number of host communities in Adjumani, Hoima, Kiryandongo, Arua and Moyo districts. Our programmes in Uganda promote community-led and results-oriented interventions in the areas of essential services (Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene); Community services and Protection; Livelihoods and food security improvements for vulnerable families; Energy and Environmental management; and Logistical support for humanitarian services and Community Capacity Building to enhance community participation.

Projects

Current Projects

Karamoja Economic Empowerment Project (KEEP IV)
Protection and Mixed Solutions for Refugees and Asylum seekers from South Sudan
Vocational Skills Training
Karamoja Economic Empowerment Project (KEEP IV)

Action Africa Help Uganda (AAHU) with funding from IRISH AID in partnership with UN Women and the government of Uganda is implementing a five-year project titled the Karamoja Economic Empowerment Project (KEEP).

The project aims to economically empower adolescent girls and young women (16-24 years) living with HIV to run sustainable enterprises as well as those at risk in two of the seven districts of Moroto, Kaabong, Kotido, Abim, Nakapiripirit, Amudat and Napak in Karamoja sub-region in a phased manner to a target population of 988,429 (Census, 2014). The project has had been implemented in three phases:

Pilot phase: from 15th February to 31st July 2016 in Moroto district. This targeted 70 primary beneficiaries from six groups.
Second phase: from 12th Oct 2016 to 31st March 2017 with 190 new primary beneficiaries from 190 groups in Moroto (9) and Kaabong (10) continued to support the 6 groups of the pilot phase in Moroto.
Current accelerator phase (IV) running from January to December 2018 with the primary target of scaling up to the districts of Napak and Kotido for 200 new beneficiaries from 20 groups and maintenance of old groups.

KEEP interventions are rooted on the rapid increase in the HIV prevalence rate (from 1.7% in 2000 to 3.5% in 2006 and to 5.3% in 2011 in Karamoja (HIV AIDS Indicator Survey, 2011) and 3.7% in 2016 (UPHIA). The most affected group is women and girls. Given the unique social and economic challenges in Karamoja, the project seeks to improve the livelihoods and well-being of adolescent girls and young women living with HIV; and to ensure they have better competences to prevent HIV infection and/or cope with the impact of living with HIV.

The project fundamentally spreads change on three pillars: social competence and skills building to prevent/cope with HIV infections, economic livelihood skilling and linkages for sustainable enterprise development. The project goal, outcome and output is summarized as follows:

Goal – Women especially the poorest and most excluded, are economically empowered and benefit from development,
Outcome – Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) have increased access to financing and markets, including public and private procurement.
Output – WBEs have increased capacity to run their enterprises profitably (enterprise development assistance).

Protection and Mixed Solutions for Refugees and Asylum seekers from South Sudan

The project is implemented in the West Nile region by AAH-I under a tripartite sub-agreement signed by UNHCR, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and AAH-I. UNHCR and OPM monitor project activities.

Adjumani district has hosted refugees for about two decades following conflicts at first in Sudan and now in South Sudan. Currently the district hosts approximately 204,960 refugees mainly from South Sudan.

This project supports UNHCR and other partners to offer timely interventions to refugees and other persons of concern within the Northern corridor in the districts of Adjumani, Moyo and Lamwo. This is done through fleet management of UNHCR and partner vehicles, involving the maintenance of about 75 vehicles, 60 motor cycles, 25 generator sets and other equipment/machinery, maintenance and repair of motorized water systems, wiring, electrical installations and repair and transportation of core relief and non-food items to various destinations within the operational area. From 2015 spare parts and fuel pump management have been centrally managed by AAH-I in Pakelle.

This project also directly supported 50 youth (35 refugees and 15 nationals) who were enrolled for vocational skills training in motor vehicle mechanics and driving, welding and metal fabrication, electricity and electronics, motorcycle mechanics and plumbing.

Vocational Skills Training

Enabel (Belgian Development Agency) in partnership with Action Africa Help Uganda (AAHU) are providing skills training to 270 youth from the refugee and host communities in the West Nile region, specifically in Arua and Adjumani districts.

The trainees are acquiring community-based, demand-driven informal vocational skills for which they will receive certification and ultimate registration into the national skills database.

Learners trained on welding, electrical installation, plumbing and borehole repair, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, mobile phone repair, weaving and knitting, agriculture, tailoring, hair dressing, building construction and catering and hotel management.

Country Publications

AAH Uganda Annual Report 2018

AAH Uganda Country Brochure

AAH Uganda Annual Report 2017

Annual Report 2014

Annual Report 2013

Enhancing Local Capacities for Self Reliance Project