Uganda has received an approval from the World Bank of $540 million (approximately UGX 2.1 trillion) of which USD 80M is a grant for the roll out of the second phase of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program
According to the Minister for Lands, Housing & Urban Development Judith N. Nabakooba, the funds will directly go to the second phase of the project dubbed, UCMID- Uganda Cities & Municipalities Infrastructure Development, Program.
“The Program Development Objective is to enhance the institutional performance of selected urban local governments and ministries for urban planning and management and improve access to climate smart infrastructure, services and jobs for urban residents and displaced populations in refugee-hosting areas” she said.
Minister Nabakooba who made the remarks while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, said UCMID shall be implemented over a period of 6 years, commencing
2026/2027 to 2030/2031.
“It shall be coordinated and managed by my Ministry, and implemented within 10 regional cities, 26 municipalities, and 13 refugee-hosting districts; directly benefiting an estimated 5.6 million people of which 1.6 Million people are expected to be from within the Refugee hosting areas” she said.
Nabakooba said the program aims to create about 20,000 permanent jobs, including 5,000 in refugees and host communities, through market operations, maintenance services, waste management, and logistics by the time of it’s completion.
“It should also have strengthened infrastructure and better market access will lower business costs, boosting the demand for Labor, and increasing household incomes, especially benefiting women, youth, and low-income groups” she said.
The following are some of the beneficiary Cities, Municipalities and Refugee hosting districts that are set to benefit from the program.
Cities: Lira, Arua, Gulu, Soroti, Mbale, Hoima, FortPortal, Jinja, Mbarara and Masaka
Municipalitiesinclude the 11 which were implementing USMID: Busia, Kitgum, Apac, Tororo, Kamuli, Lugazi, Moroto, Kabale, Ntungamo, Mubende and Kasese and the new 15 Municipalities coming on board now are: Mityana, Njeru, Bugiri, Rukungiri, Kisoro, Kapchorwa, Iganga, Kotido, Koboko, Sheema, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Ibanda, Kumi, Masindi and Nebbi.
The 13 Refugee Hosting Districts include; Arua, Terego, Yumbe, Madi-Okollo, Lamwo, Adjumani, Moyo, Obongi, Kiryandongo, Kamwenge, Isingiro, Kikuube and Kyegegwa.
