Humanitarian context
Uganda hosted over 1.5 million refugees and asylum-seekers in 2022. Many of them were fleeing persecution, conflict, political instability and human rights violations in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. The growing number of refugees reduced food stocks, as well as opportunities for access to income and health services. Almost 30% of children under five years of age suffer from stunting and more than half of the population suffers from anaemia. Hunger and undernutrition in Uganda are due to a number of factors, including poverty, landlessness, high fertility, natural disasters and high food prices.
BENEFICIARIES
WORKERS
NUTRITION
WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE
EXPATRIATES
NATIONAL
Our activity
In 2022, Action Against Hunger established 340 Village Savings and Credit Associations (VSLA) in Uganda, which collectively saved 511 480 euros. Our teams also provided climate-smart agricultural supplies to 459 farmer groups, including seeds, irrigation systems, wells, oxen and plows. We also connected farmers with global supply chains, helping them sell sunflower seeds, cassava and chili and generate over 20 000 euros in income.
Our teams helped treat and prevent undernutrition through 50 health centres and 298 care groups, reaching 33 576 young children and 45 987 pregnant and lactating women. We promoted healthy care and feeding practices and offered food vouchers, vaccines and maternal health services to refugees and host communities to improve their health and nutrition. Action Against Hunger also increased access to safe drinking water, built sanitation infrastructure such as latrines, and improved hygiene practices among people and in health facilities.
WHERE WE HELP
We help 24.5 million people each year. We work in 55 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, those most threatened by hunger
EYEWITNESSES
RODA: "ALL THE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL. IF I HAVE PROBLEMS, I SHARE THEM WITH THE OTHER MOTHERS IN THE GROUP"
At the outbreak of the war, Roda Keji was living in Magali but had to flee with his children and nephews. "My sister's husband was a soldier and he was killed fighting the rebels. It was the school holidays and my sister's children were with me when the war broke out and we had to flee. There was no way they could return with her to Juba. Then, in July 2016, my sister was killed in the crossfire of a gun battle," Roda explains.
Roda left her home and, with her children and nephews, had to find a safe place away from the war that would provide the security they needed. "We escaped because of the war. Government troops came and dragged people out of their beds during the night, men and women. They were accused of aiding rebel soldiers. My husband is in Nimule, a Ugandan town on the border with South Sudan. He could not cross the border because he does not have the proper documents. Women can cross freely," says Roda. On occasion she has crossed the border to visit her husband and recounts how "if a man crosses the border, for the government it automatically means that he joined the rebels and so he cannot return."
Roda arrived in South Sudan in 2014 and upon arrival, they had nothing to eat: "My children really suffered from hunger. We had no place to stay and there was no one to help us. I had to build our shelter out of bricks. I built the foundation and then sold my food ration so I could pay men to finish the house. At the moment, I use my food ration to make fritters which I sell to make money for my family, but it is not enough. My husband also sends money to help support the family."
Today, Roda lives in a refugee settlement in Uganda with her four children, and is pregnant with her fifth child. She also looks after her younger sister's three children. Roda is an active member of one of the many 'mum-to-mum' support groups set up by Action Against Hunger in northern Uganda to help mothers rebuild their lives. "All the children go to school. If I have problems, I share them with the other mothers in the group. We are all united. We are all sisters."