By Abdullahi Lukman
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a $500,000 emergency grant from its Special Relief Fund to support Uganda’s response to recent floods and landslides in the country’s eastern and western regions.
The funding will aid the Relief Emergency Response Project, providing immediate shelter and support for displaced families in Bulambuli, Kasese, and Ntoroko districts.
The assistance includes the supply of family-sized tents for approximately 1,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs), aiming to improve living conditions in temporary camps where thousands have taken refuge.
The initiative follows intense rainfall between August 17 and 19, 2025, which caused widespread flooding and landslides in the Mount Elgon subregion and surrounding areas, resulting in five deaths, 50 injuries, and over 2,000 homes destroyed. Around 5,000 people were displaced and 15,000 affected overall.
According to the AfDB, the intervention goes beyond emergency relief. “This project is an investment in dignity, safety, and recovery,” said Mercuria Assefaw, Division Manager for Water Security and Sanitation.
She noted that the procurement of shelter materials and logistics will also stimulate local economic activity.
The project will be implemented by Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister through the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management.
Activities are expected to be completed within six months, with a focus on rapid procurement and delivery.
The AfDB said the grant reflects its continued commitment to humanitarian response and climate resilience across Africa, particularly as Uganda faces increasing threats from extreme weather events in the Rwenzori and Elgon regions.