DRDIP Uganda Updates

Safety, prospect of academic excellence and mindset change optimism now characterize Aanga primary school, Terego district in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region –where World Bank funding is helping to headrest refugee hosting through a development approach. Classrooms constructed by DRDIP at Aanga P. school The Office of the Prime Minister through Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) is responsible for this positive transition. The project has revamped the school’s infrastructure, changing the outlook of the institution and attracting more children. Teachers are now comfortable to deliver service in this once ramshackle learning environment, says Nillo Candia, the school’s deputy head-teacher. “Before DRDIP intervened, this school was congested, we had water shortage with learners sharing water points with the surrounding community of both refugees and host communities”, Candia testified. “We couldn’t imagine the infrastructural change we see today. We are now chal...

Kamwenge district council hall The Office of the Prime Minister’s Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) has kicked off project review workshops across the 15 refugee hosting beneficiary districts.  Herbert Akamperwa the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist says the engagements are aimed at understanding implementation progress, deliberating on project closure arrangements and sharing priorities for a possible successor operation. Key district stakeholders from Isingiro, Kyegegwa, Hoima, Kikube Thursday, gathered in central Kamwenge district to be part of the discussion. Resident District Commissioners, District Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers, DRDIP district staff and component focal points are in attendance. The Inspectorate of Government and partner Ministries Departments and Agencies are also taking part. Fast-tracking completion of ongoing sub-projects, handover of completed infrastructure to beneficiaries, conclusion with accoun...

By Beatrice Ociru Obongi district is grappling with a challenge of access to energy for both domestic, commercial and institutional use. The district is not connected to either national grid or any private power distributor; hydro or thermal despite her proximity to the Nile River. Solar installation in Aliba Primary School, Obongi DRDIP’s Sustainable Environment and Natural Resource Management (SENRM) sub-component of: access to energy has addressed this challenge in schools and health centres where the project intervenes. Aliba Primary School is one of the beneficiaries of this project, the headteacher, Michael Koma says they have been facing challenges in access to energy and insecurity since the place would be very dark. He notes that the school was spending a lot of money in printing examinations because of high enrolment and general operations. The headteacher at Office during evening hours “Power is very relevant for a school as both pupils and the teaching staff use for readi...

By Beatrice Ociru The construction of the Outpatient Department and Maternity Ward by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) through the World Bank funded, Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project(DRDIP) has improved access to health care services at Belameling Health center II in Obongi district. This Health Centre serves an estimated population of 20,224 people both refugees and host communities. The temporary structure before DRDIP intervened George Ogama, the in charge of Belameling says patients used to take long to recover due to high temperatures and disruption from leaking roofs which made the patients uncomfortable.   “It was very difficult to admit this big population in the temporary structures which were very small and hot making patients’ temperatures higher than the normal, hence delayed recovery” Ogama confesses. The DRDIP constructed maternity ward came in with water installations that now helps mothers clean up after delivery thus, providing privacy...

In the absence of rain there was too much dust causing flue as it penetrates through ventilations of students’ dormitories splattering allover beddings, thus posing several health risks to learners.   Ivan Ijjo, a grade three student of Ofua Seed Secondary School in the West Nile, Adjumani district shares the experience with Robert Owiny.   Students' Dometories contsructed by DRDIP at Ofua Seed School, Adjumani “When it would rain, the whole compound was always awash with sticky mud and again, staining our halls and classrooms”, Ijjo narrates during a visit to assess the changes caused by the implementation of social safeguards component of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP). During project execution, DRDIP a project under the Office of the Prime Minister complies with the Government of Uganda’s and World Bank’s regulatory framework s on e nvironmental, health, safety and social risk s to ensure that project activities do not result in to...

P7 class at Kazinga primary school, Kyegegwa It was 19 th century French poet , Alfred Mercier who held that, “what we learn with pleasure we never forget”. Indeed, learning in a pleasant environment boosts learners’ understanding, motivates teachers, enhances better outputs and improves learning outcomes.   This is undoubtedly why schools whose infrastructure were upgraded by the Office of the Prime Ministers’, Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project(DRDIP) have recorded remarkable strides around learners’ enrollment, retention and academic performance in national level examinations. There are innumerable stories of change across DRDIP supported schools within the 15 districts of intervention spanning from: south western Uganda (Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa), West-Nile (Arua, Madi-Okollo, Terego, Koboko, Yumbe, Obongi, Adjumani), Bunyoro (Kikuube, Hoima, Kiryandongo) and Acholi(Lamwo). At Rwamwanja primary school in Kamwenge district where the project con...

YUMBE: Poverty, illiteracy, religious misinterpretation and drug abuse are some of the key instigators of Gender Based Violence and Violence Against Children(GBV/VAC) in Yumbe district according to data available at the district social welfare department.  Other instigators are: negative cultural norms and practices, peer influence, irresponsible parenting, lack of sexuality education and male desire for young girls. Participants during the GBV/VAC meeting Yumbe Jamal Kiira, the Yumbe District Senior Community Development Officer in charge Gender, revealed that a total of 343 cases have been reported since last year.   Kiira was attending a GBV/VAC stakeholders’ engagement meeting organized by the Office of the Prime Minister’s(OPM), Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) Monday at Yumbe District Local Government headquarters. Of the 343 cases recorded; defilement is the most rampant at, 123 according to the district report, consequently followed by c...