DRDIP Uganda Updates

The New face of Kyarugaju Health Center III, Isingiro district The Isingiro District Engineer, Asaph Abenaitwe describes the former structure that formed Kyarugaju Health center II as “a condemned structure that wasn’t fit to house health services”. Infested with bats and full of cracks, the lonely building was itself hazardous to the health of those who go to seek treatment. This situation has been turned around through DRDIP intervention.The project built a general ward, an outpatient department, a maternity ward, and installed piped water and solar energy within the facility. Other infrastructure put in place include; staff quarters, an incinerator, and a chain-link fence. Joseph Ahimbisibwe the Chairperson, Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) says, “ we had a very small health center that could not accommodate even 15 people and it was very old , so, we sat down in our community meeting and we applied for a sub project through our district and then after that , the...

Beneficiary refugee communities in Kyaka II refugee settlement Refugee communities supported by DRDIP in Kyaka II settlement are now producing energy saving cooking stoves on their own after receiving technical training and support from the project. Ronald Anguria of Green Heat (U)Ltd, an implementing agent of DRDIP says the beneficiary refugees had their capacity built on; cook stove fabrication, sustainable usage of the stoves, marketing, sales and record keeping. Four groups within the settlement have already made great progress. In Bukere area, the supported group made 375 stoves now ready for marketing, while Bwirize group now have 230 in the market. Others are; Itambabiniga community with 350 Stoves, and 330 in Sweswe area.Their products are now sold locally in markets and the beneficiaries use proceeds to pay their children’s’ school fees but also to acquire basic household requirements, says, Angura. Whereas the stoves are aimed at reducing tree cutting as a way of protecti...

Fifteen people; five men and 10 women, are transforming Iringa C village in Rwampara Sub County, Kyegegwa district, - South Western Uganda. Two years ago, they formed a group that benefitted from a Village Revolving Fund(VRF) enterprise, a livelihood aspect of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP). These people lived in one of the most degraded areas affected by population pressure. They suffered most from poverty. The refugee influx had made resources not enough for them. They needed support, which came through DRDIP. To-date, these members control ‘the economy’ of Iringa C village. They supply milk. They own individual household businesses. They upgraded from grass thatched, to permanently built houses for their families. Their children are settled in school. They have embraced group savings and investments after being trained on financial literacy. The group is noticeable and respected both at Sub County and District for making quick, steady, unstoppable...