Implementation of the long-awaited Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) IV is set to begin in July 2025, the Minister, Office of the Prime Minister (General Duties), Hon. Justine Lumumba has revealed.
The government initiative, aimed at supporting social protection and development in nine sub regions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, Karamoja, Bukedi, Bunyoro and Busoga was expected to have started in 2023.
Lumumba told lawmakers that the US$276 million initiative has now been considered in the 2025/2026 financial year (FY) budget.
She made the revelation before the Committee on Presidential Affairs while presenting the ministry’s policy statement on Tuesday, 01 April 2025.
“Key preparatory activities are progressing well. Negotiations for NUSAF IV have been completed,” she said.
NUSAF IV, a successor of NUSAF III is a five year initiative and is expected to benefit over three million beneficiaries through provision of improved inputs, investment capital and value addition equipment.
Lumumba also said that government will implement the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) II in the 2025/2026 financial year.
The project is a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by government to address the social, economic and environmental needs of host communities in refugee-hosting districts. It aims to improve access to basic services, expand economic opportunities and enhance environmental management.
According to Lumumba, US$278 million has been secured to implement the initiative in the 2025/2026 and it will run for six years, targeting 3.5 million Ugandans.
“This time we are going to include the refugee transit districts of Kisoro, Amuru, Kitgum, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo and Zombo,” she said.
Lumumba however, urged legislators to exercise flexibility while considering issues of refugees, saying that such matters require policy reviews, from time to time.
“As we discuss this, we are writing a paper to Cabinet to look at the issue of food for refugees. Already donors have written to us that they are only able to provide food for the next three months and when we talk of 1.7 million people, we cannot postpone feeding them,” she said.
The Minister of State, Office of the Prime Minister (Northern Uganda), Hon. Kenneth Omona pointed out that NUSAF IV will focus on stimulating production and supporting communities.
“Government found it fitting that we have NUSAF IV. Luckily, we have been able to engage our development partners again to give us funds,” he said.
Adjumani District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Jesca Ababiku welcomed the implementation of NUSAF IV and DRDIP II saying that they were long overdue.
She however urged the ministers to update local governments about the development, saying that some districts are under pressure to complete projects under DRDIP I, with the assumption that the project has ended.
Hon. James Mamawi (NRM, Adjumani East County) said that whereas districts implementing the DRDIP I project are progressing, there is need for government to provide clarity on how such grant aided projects align with government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).