AfDB Approves $500,000 Grant to Support Uganda’s Flood and Landslide Response
The African Development Bank Group has approved a grant of $500,000 from its Special Relief Fund to assist Uganda in responding to devastating floods and landslides that struck several districts in August.
The financing will support the Relief Emergency Response Project, providing urgent shelter and assistance to affected communities in Bulambuli, Kasese and Ntoroko. Around 1,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) will receive family-size tents to improve living conditions in camps where thousands remain sheltered.
From 17–19 August, torrential rains hit the Mount Elgon subregion in eastern Uganda, flooding Bulambuli, Sironko and Mbale districts and triggering landslides in Namisindwa. Local authorities reported five deaths, 50 injuries, and more than 2,000 homes damaged or destroyed. At least 5,000 people were displaced and some 15,000 in total affected.
“Beyond emergency relief, the project is an investment in dignity, safety, and recovery,” said Mercuria Assefaw, the Bank’s Division Manager for Water Security and Sanitation. “Providing decent temporary housing will not only address an urgent shelter need and improve living conditions for displaced families, it will also stimulate the local economy through procurement and logistics.”
The Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda will implement the initiative through the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management. By prioritising rapid procurement and delivery, the project will create opportunities for local suppliers and service providers, helping to restore livelihoods in the flood-affected communities.
Activities are expected to be completed within six months to ensure displaced families receive support quickly. The operation also aims to strengthen Uganda’s humanitarian response capacity and foster resilience in regions increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
“Assefaw added, “This grant reflects the Bank’s solidarity with Uganda. By providing immediate relief, we aim to restore hope and stability as communities continue their journey of recovery.”
