The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $500,000 grant to support Uganda’s emergency response to recent floods and landslides, targeting thousands of affected residents in eastern and western regions of the country.
The funding, drawn from AfDB’s Special Relief Fund, will provide urgent assistance to communities in Bulambuli, Kasese, and Ntoroko districts. Families displaced by the disasters will receive family-size tents to improve living conditions in temporary camps. An estimated 1,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are expected to benefit directly.
From 17th to 19th August 2025, heavy rains in the Mount Elgon subregion caused widespread flooding across Bulambuli, Sironko, and Mbale districts and triggered landslides in Namisindwa district. Local authorities reported five deaths, 50 injuries, and damage or destruction of around 2,000 homes. In total, 5,000 people were displaced, with 15,000 others affected by the disasters.
Mercuria Assefaw, AfDB Division Manager for Water Security and Sanitation, said the project goes beyond emergency aid. “Providing decent temporary housing will not only address a priority shelter need and improve living conditions for displaced families, it will also stimulate the local economy through procurement and logistics,” she said.
The Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda will implement the relief project through the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management. Activities, including rapid procurement and efficient delivery of shelter materials, will be completed within six months to ensure timely support for affected communities.
“This grant reflects the Bank’s solidarity with Uganda,” Assefaw added. “By providing immediate relief, we aim to restore hope and stability as communities continue their journey of recovery.”
The AfDB’s intervention comes amid increasing extreme weather events across Uganda’s Mount Elgon and Rwenzori regions, which have displaced families, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted livelihoods over recent years. The funding is expected to strengthen Uganda’s humanitarian response capacity and contribute to long-term resilience.
