WFP and EU
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has welcomed a generous contribution of EUR 5 million from the European Union (EU).
The funds are towards the support of income-generating activities aimed at enhancing self-reliance and food security for refugees and host communities in Uganda.
Uganda hosts approximately 1.9 million refugees and asylum seekers, making it Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country.
While Uganda’s national refugee policy allows refugees to work and move freely, economic opportunities remain limited within and around refugee settlements.
As a result, humanitarian and development assistance continue to be a vital lifeline for refugee families striving to build safer, more self-reliant lives.
“Empowering refugees in Uganda to become self-reliant has never been more important,” said Genevieve Chicoine, WFP’s Acting Country Director in Uganda.
“This vital contribution from the European Union will enable WFP to support thousands of refugees and host communities with the skills they need to earn a living and put food on the table.”
Currently, WFP supports 660,000 refugees in Uganda through cash transfers, in-kind food assistance, and programs designed to increase self-reliance and improve nutrition among mothers and children.
The new EU funding will specifically benefit 12,600 refugees residing in the Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements, as well as 5,400 members of the surrounding host communities.
Activities under this initiative include training on best farming practices such as regenerative agriculture, financial literacy skills for business management and resource growth, and nutrition support targeting pregnant and breastfeeding women.
“This partnership reflects a shift from delivering aid to delivering opportunity,” noted Guillaume Chartrain, European Union Deputy Head of Delegation to Uganda.
“Refugees and host communities are gaining the tools they need to shape their futures. By investing in people’s skills and potential, we are supporting more stable, self-reliant communities—and that benefits everyone.”
The initiative forms part of the European Union’s Action for Protection, Assistance and Durable Solutions for Displaced Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa (EUPADS), which aims to address the root causes of displacement while strengthening national policies for displaced people in countries like Uganda.
Despite these efforts, WFP’s food assistance programs in Uganda are currently facing critical funding shortfalls.
In May 2025, the agency was forced to halt food assistance for nearly one million refugees and reduce food rations for others to an unprecedented low of 22 percent, highlighting the urgent need for continued support.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
The partnership between Uganda and the European Union is broad and is guided by mutual political, trade, and development interests.
The European Union is a key development partner of Uganda, supporting programmes that focus on green transition, the growth of sustainable and inclusive jobs and investment, as well as a stronger democratic governance that promotes social inclusion and human rights.
The European Union, together with its Member States, is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid, including in Uganda.
