New USAID Director Visits Gulu District

Northern Uganda is a Priority for the US Government

The United States Government continues to highlight that the crisis in northern Uganda is a priority concern that demands attention by both the Government of Uganda and the international community.  The United States Agency for International Development’s new  Mission Director in Uganda, Margot Ellis, visited Gulu district just 5 weeks after her arrival in the country.  Her previous post was in West Bank/Gaza.

Margot’s visit to Gulu focused on familiarizing her with the current conflict situation in Gulu and the surrounding districts; meeting relevant government officials and stakeholders; and visiting a number of development, HIV/AIDS prevention and humanitarian assistance activities funded by USAID in the district. 

USAID is supporting a wide range of activities in Gulu including: a reception center for formally abducted children, a shelter for night commuters, a youth center for HIV/AIDS prevention, sign language training for deaf trainers of trainers, a supplemental and therapeutic feeding center, and a road building project that employs internally displaced persons.  She also visited The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), which has been receiving most of its funding from the U.S. Government since the early 1990s.

She visited a World Food Program distribution at an internally displaced persons camp; The U.S. government contributes 50 percent of the food for its feeding program. 

She also met with key members of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, which is funded through the Northern Uganda Peace Initiative (NUPI), a USAID activity which aims to promote community and national level peace and reconciliation.

USAID/Uganda works in partnership with the Government of Uganda to reduce poverty and build the capacity of indigenous organizations and district level governments in order to better serve rural populations.  USAID has a broad portfolio of HIV/AIDS, education, malaria, reproductive health, agriculture, environment, economic growth, democracy and governance, and conflict mitigation activities throughout the country. 

In 2005, the American People, through USAID, are providing $194 M to Uganda in development and emergency programs.

For more information please contact Kim Burns 41/31-387-387 or email kburns@usaid.gov