General information

About the Mission

Launch date: 1980
Local staff : 100
Expatriates : 6

Key figures

Population: 29 million inhabitants (2007)
Life expectancy : 49 years (2007)
Human Development Index : Ranking 154 out of 177

Humanitarian context

Since decolonisation, the country has suffered from permanent political instability marked by the particular virulence of leaders in government. Rebel groups, such as the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), fight for power, especially in the north of the country (Acholiland). Eighty percent of the regions population (800,000 people) are living in camps for displaced people and have reduced access to drinking water, have no land to cultivate and no access to health services. Life expectancy in the region is less than 40 years.

The World Bank estimates that 50% of the population is living in poverty and Uganda has one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world (21%).

The Government has not shown an ability to control the demands and abuses (assassinations, rapes, etc.) which are reported on a daily basis in the region. Since June 2003 the violence has also spread to the districts of Gulu, Pader and Kitgum, implicating two other ethnic groups (Iteso and Langi). Between 20,000 and 100,000 people took refuge in the west of Uganda during the conflict in DR Congo.

Despite efforts at negotiation with Rwanda, both countries accuse each other of supporting the other's armed rebel groups.

Action Against Hunger in Uganda

Nutrition

• Nutrition monitoring and surveys
• Health and nutrition training
• Supplementary and therapeutic nutrition centers

Food Security

• Tracking and monitoring of the situation at refugee camps
• Water and Sanitation
• Rehabilitation of water points
• Hygiene and health training in refugee and displaced people camps

Funding

ECHO, OFDA, DFID, Italian Cooperation