U.S. Government Provides USD 15 Million to Uganda’s COVID-19 Response | May 22, 2020 | PR 03/20
https://ug.usembassy.gov/u-s-government-provides-usd-15-million-to-ugandas-covid-19-response/
U.S. MISSION UGANDA PRESS RELEASE | May 22, 2020 | PR 03/20U.S. Government Provides USD 15 Million to Uganda’s COVID-19 Response
Kampala, May 22, 2020 – On May 20, Secretary of State Pompeo announced that the American people made a commitment of an additional USD 162 million for the global COVID-19 response, bringing the total to date to more than USD 1 billion since the outbreak began.
The U.S. Mission in Uganda has provided both technical assistance and more than USD 15 million (UGX 56 Billion) in funding to meet the urgent needs of Uganda’s COVID-19 response. This assistance has been spread across many parts of the health sector to directly support the COVID-19 response as well as to assist the broader health sector in continuing its regular service delivery with the goal of enabling Uganda’s overall health system to maintain stability despite the challenges of COVID-19.
For decades, the U.S. Mission has invested significantly in the country’s health sector, including systems strengthening and preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious diseases. U.S. government support to Uganda’s health sector over the years played a key role in preparing the Ugandan government to effectively respond to COVID-19.
In addition to the support highlighted in our April 1 press release, which continues, we are pleased to announce the following support, which represents a portion of the USD 15 million we have provided:
- The U.S. government has redirected and reprogrammed more than USD 2.8 million to address general needs of the COVID-19 response including personnel, additional supplies, and technological equipment to support the surge capacity of Uganda’s Emergency Operation Center.
- We have contributed more than USD 600,000 of additional funding to ensure nationwide upgrades to electronic data systems and establish a National Health Information Exchange to link electronic systems for enhanced COVID-19 case management and expanded surveillance.
- The U.S. government has contributed an additional USD 540,000 to provide and train surge capacity laboratory staff, expand the severe acute respiratory illness sentinel surveillance network, and complete performance evaluations for new COVID-19 test kits.
- To ensure that vital HIV services continue in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government redirected USD 650,000 through our Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services (RHITES) programs for training and orientation of facility and community-based health workers on Ministry of Health guidelines, training curricula, and standard operating procedures.
- We are committed to stopping COVID-19 at Uganda’s borders through technical assistance and have provided an additional USD 210,000 to build the new Border Health Authority, including the creation of training protocols for border screening personnel, the creation of the National Border Health Plan, and the training of health, lab, and security personnel at borders for screening operations.
- We have allocated nearly USD 1.3 million of additional humanitarian assistance to support UNHCR’s COVID-19 response for refugees and host communities.
- We believe that Uganda’s most vulnerable people must be protected, and have redirected USD 220,000 of funding to enhance child protection services, in addition to the technical assistance we provided that resulted in the re-opening of the Uganda Child Helpline (116), retaining this critical channel for comprehensive response services for child victims of violence.
- Through existing platforms supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the U.S government continues to support the COVID-19 response through existing systems such as the laboratory hubs and sample transportation network, national labs such as Central Public Health laboratory and Uganda Virus Research Institute, and support to community surveillance through public health fellows. The U.S. government is also supporting the key role of Regional Referral Hospitals and district leadership structures.
For additional information, please contact:
Dorothy Nanyonga, Information Assistant, U.S. Mission Uganda
Tel: +256 414 306 410 Cell: +256 772138194
Email: KampalaUSEmbassyPress@state.gov
Uganda: World Bank Provides $300 Million to Close COVID-19 Financing Gap and Support Economy Recover
June 29, 2020
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a $300 million budget support operation for Uganda to boost the Government’s capacity to prevent, detect and treat the coronavirus, protect the poor and vulnerable population, and support economic recovery.
The Uganda COVID-19 Economic Crisis and Recovery Development Policy Financing is the first budget support operation in more than 6 years and will address the fiscal financing gap while supporting reforms that will provide immediate relief to individuals and businesses that have been most affected by the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and livelihoods. This budget support operation will enable the Government to provide vital services, social safety nets and a more robust shock-responsive system for the long term, and the economy to recover faster,” said Tony
Thompson, World Bank Country Manager for Uganda.
As of June 28, Uganda had registered 870 cases of COVID-19 with no fatalities. Containment measures such as restrictions on travel, public gatherings, closure of businesses and schools has had severe impact on the economy and people’s livelihoods. An estimated 3.15 million could fall deeper into poverty, adding to the 8.7 million people Ugandans currently living below the poverty line. This has been worsened by the onset of heavy rains and flooding, and a locust invasion whose impact was expected during April-June of 2020. Overall economic growth is projected at 3 to 4 percent in FY2019/20, lower than the 6.3 percent that had been anticipated for the year.
To secure the financing, Uganda has undertaken policy measures that directly benefit many low-income households. Farmers will be supported to access high quality agricultural inputs, seeds and fertilizers using e-vouchers to boost nutrition and food security. Social protection programs through cash for work labor intensive programs will be expanded to benefit 500,000 individuals while the current senior citizen grant will cover an additional 71 districts to support the elderly. A national single registry for beneficiaries of safety net programs has been established and additional measures taken to protect children against violence. Uninterrupted access to essential utilities like electricity, water and sanitation services has been guaranteed through subsides, and tax exemption extended to supplies and equipment used in treatment of COVID-19.
To stimulate recovery of private sector, businesses in distress will receive tax relief alongside the liquidity measures from the Central Bank to commercial banks, microfinance institutions and credit institutions, that allows them to provide a moratorium on loan repayment for businesses and individual borrowers that have been affected by the pandemic for up to 12 months. In addition, Government has committed to stronger transparency and management of state-owned enterprises debt and payment of domestic arears to suppliers.
World Bank Group COVID-19 Response
The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response. We are supporting public health interventions, working to ensure the flow of critical supplies and equipment, and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. We will be deploying up to $160 billion in financial support over 15 months to help more than 100 countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery. This includes $50 billion of new IDA resources through grants and highly concessional loans.
The Ugandan economy is being severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and, in particular, such key sectors as services (tourism), transport, construction, manufacturing and agriculture. The challenging external environment is curtailing remittances and foreign direct investments. The pandemic has also exacerbated the challenges posed by heavy rains in early 2020 and the ongoing locust invasion.
To contain the impact of the pandemic, the authorities have increased health spending, strengthened social protection to the most vulnerable, and enhanced their support to the private sector. The Bank of Uganda has appropriately reduced interest rates and provided liquidity to safeguard financial stability, while maintaining exchange rate flexibility.
The weakening economic conditions emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic have put significant pressures on revenue collection, expenditure, reserves and the exchange rate, creating urgent large external and fiscal financing needs.
The IMF continues to monitor Uganda’s situation closely and stands ready to provide policy advice and further support as needed. The authorities have also committed to put in place targeted transparency and accountability measures to ensure the appropriate use of emergency financing.
Following the Executive Board’s discussion on Uganda, Mr. Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:
“The global COVID-19 pandemic is expected to severely hit the Ugandan economy through several channels, with detrimental effects on economic activity and social indicators. The external and fiscal accounts are expected to deteriorate, creating substantial urgent external and fiscal financing needs.
“To limit the pandemic’s human and economic impact, the authorities have promptly adopted bold preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus, and scaled up health spending to strengthen the health system’s capacity. Interventions to support the more vulnerable have also been introduced. In addition, the Bank of Uganda has swiftly introduced policy measures to support liquidity, preserve financial stability and support economic activity. The authorities are encouraged to continue to step up social protection programs to cushion the impact on the vulnerable population and to protect health spending allocations over the medium term.
“A temporary widening of the fiscal deficit is warranted in the short term to allow for the implementation of the response plan. Despite a temporary worsening of debt indicators and heightened vulnerabilities, public debt is expected to remain sustainable. The authorities remain committed to ensuring debt sustainability, including through their efforts to enhance revenue collection and strengthen public investment management.
“The authorities are committed to managing transparently the resources received and will strengthen transparency and accountability. They plan to report separately on the use of the funds, undertake and publish an independent audit of crisis-mitigation spending and publish large procurement contracts.
“The IMF’s emergency financial support under the Rapid Credit Facility, along with the additional donor financing it is expected to help catalyze, will help address Uganda’s urgent balance of payments and budget support needs.”
More information
IMF Lending Tracker (emergency financing request approved by the IMF Executive Board)
https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/COVID-Lending-Tracker
IMF Executive Board calendar
https://www.imf.org/external/NP/SEC/bc/eng/index.aspx
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The Uganda COVID-19 Economic Crisis and Recovery Development Policy Financing is the first budget support operation in more than 6 years and will address the fiscal financing gap while supporting reforms that will provide immediate relief to individuals and businesses that have been most affected by the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy and livelihoods. This budget support operation will enable the Government to provide vital services, social safety nets and a more robust shock-responsive system for the long term, and the economy to recover faster,” said Tony
Thompson, World Bank Country Manager for Uganda.
As of June 28, Uganda had registered 870 cases of COVID-19 with no fatalities. Containment measures such as restrictions on travel, public gatherings, closure of businesses and schools has had severe impact on the economy and people’s livelihoods. An estimated 3.15 million could fall deeper into poverty, adding to the 8.7 million people Ugandans currently living below the poverty line. This has been worsened by the onset of heavy rains and flooding, and a locust invasion whose impact was expected during April-June of 2020. Overall economic growth is projected at 3 to 4 percent in FY2019/20, lower than the 6.3 percent that had been anticipated for the year.
To secure the financing, Uganda has undertaken policy measures that directly benefit many low-income households. Farmers will be supported to access high quality agricultural inputs, seeds and fertilizers using e-vouchers to boost nutrition and food security. Social protection programs through cash for work labor intensive programs will be expanded to benefit 500,000 individuals while the current senior citizen grant will cover an additional 71 districts to support the elderly. A national single registry for beneficiaries of safety net programs has been established and additional measures taken to protect children against violence. Uninterrupted access to essential utilities like electricity, water and sanitation services has been guaranteed through subsides, and tax exemption extended to supplies and equipment used in treatment of COVID-19.
To stimulate recovery of private sector, businesses in distress will receive tax relief alongside the liquidity measures from the Central Bank to commercial banks, microfinance institutions and credit institutions, that allows them to provide a moratorium on loan repayment for businesses and individual borrowers that have been affected by the pandemic for up to 12 months. In addition, Government has committed to stronger transparency and management of state-owned enterprises debt and payment of domestic arears to suppliers.
World Bank Group COVID-19 Response
The World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response. We are supporting public health interventions, working to ensure the flow of critical supplies and equipment, and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. We will be deploying up to $160 billion in financial support over 15 months to help more than 100 countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery. This includes $50 billion of new IDA resources through grants and highly concessional loans.
IMF Executive Board Approves a US$491.5 Million Disbursement to Uganda to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic
May 6, 2020
- The Ugandan economy is severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To address the urgent balance-of-payments and fiscal needs, the IMF approved US$491.5 million emergency assistance for Uganda under the Rapid Credit Facility.
- The authorities have timely scaled up health spending and put in place bold measures to help contain and mitigate the spread of the disease, as well as to cushion the impact on the most vulnerable and the private sector.
The Ugandan economy is being severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and, in particular, such key sectors as services (tourism), transport, construction, manufacturing and agriculture. The challenging external environment is curtailing remittances and foreign direct investments. The pandemic has also exacerbated the challenges posed by heavy rains in early 2020 and the ongoing locust invasion.
To contain the impact of the pandemic, the authorities have increased health spending, strengthened social protection to the most vulnerable, and enhanced their support to the private sector. The Bank of Uganda has appropriately reduced interest rates and provided liquidity to safeguard financial stability, while maintaining exchange rate flexibility.
The weakening economic conditions emanating from the Covid-19 pandemic have put significant pressures on revenue collection, expenditure, reserves and the exchange rate, creating urgent large external and fiscal financing needs.
The IMF continues to monitor Uganda’s situation closely and stands ready to provide policy advice and further support as needed. The authorities have also committed to put in place targeted transparency and accountability measures to ensure the appropriate use of emergency financing.
Following the Executive Board’s discussion on Uganda, Mr. Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:
“The global COVID-19 pandemic is expected to severely hit the Ugandan economy through several channels, with detrimental effects on economic activity and social indicators. The external and fiscal accounts are expected to deteriorate, creating substantial urgent external and fiscal financing needs.
“To limit the pandemic’s human and economic impact, the authorities have promptly adopted bold preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus, and scaled up health spending to strengthen the health system’s capacity. Interventions to support the more vulnerable have also been introduced. In addition, the Bank of Uganda has swiftly introduced policy measures to support liquidity, preserve financial stability and support economic activity. The authorities are encouraged to continue to step up social protection programs to cushion the impact on the vulnerable population and to protect health spending allocations over the medium term.
“A temporary widening of the fiscal deficit is warranted in the short term to allow for the implementation of the response plan. Despite a temporary worsening of debt indicators and heightened vulnerabilities, public debt is expected to remain sustainable. The authorities remain committed to ensuring debt sustainability, including through their efforts to enhance revenue collection and strengthen public investment management.
“The authorities are committed to managing transparently the resources received and will strengthen transparency and accountability. They plan to report separately on the use of the funds, undertake and publish an independent audit of crisis-mitigation spending and publish large procurement contracts.
“The IMF’s emergency financial support under the Rapid Credit Facility, along with the additional donor financing it is expected to help catalyze, will help address Uganda’s urgent balance of payments and budget support needs.”
More information
IMF Lending Tracker (emergency financing request approved by the IMF Executive Board)
https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/COVID-Lending-Tracker
IMF Executive Board calendar
https://www.imf.org/external/NP/SEC/bc/eng/index.aspx
COVID-19: Team Europe announce €178 million (around 737 billion UGX) support to Uganda
01/06/2020 - 10:33
Although the European Union is one of the most affected regions in the world, it is firmly committed to assist its partner countries in their efforts to meet the urgent health and humanitarian needs caused by COVID-19.
Joint Statement of "Team Europe" in Uganda
An immediate contribution of 178 million EUR (around 737 billion UGX) to fight the COVID-19 crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented worldwide crisis. Although the European Union is one of the most affected regions in the world, it is firmly committed to assist its partner countries in their efforts to meet the urgent health and humanitarian needs caused by COVID-19 as well as address its long-term socio-economic consequences.
Under the banner of Team Europe (#TeamEurope), European Union institutions and Member States are responding jointly to the COVID-19 crisis. Globally, Team Europe is the largest contributor to the fight against COVID-19, providing overall financial support of more than EUR 20 billion. In Uganda, Team Europe's immediate contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 crisis totals 53 million euros (around 219 billion UGX) of grant support. In addition to this, Team Europe will be providing a total of 125 million euros (around 518 billion UGX) of concessional loans and new lines of credit in support of the private sector. Additional actions are being planned, to ensure continuous support in the months to come.
With this first contribution, Team Europe in Uganda will:
1) Contribute to financing Uganda's COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, focusing on the immediate sanitary and humanitarian needs. Team Europe has, for example, been helping provide personal protective equipment, PCR machines, extra test kits, mobile laboratories, infrared thermometers and other such equipment to support the frontline workers in their fight against the spread of COVID-19.
2) Provide continuous support to the Health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sectors. We will continue to respond to Uganda's longer-term needs by helping reinforce the health system and provide quality water and sanitation services in a sustainable way.
3) Help mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis, especially through supporting livelihoods and employment. Social protection is central to Team Europe's response where we recognize the critical importance of supporting the most vulnerable in society and the refugees hosted by Uganda using existing channels to reach these people quickly.
Building on the success of the first Uganda-Europe Business Forum organized in February, we are planning a package to provide access to credit for Small and Medium Enterprises in the sectors most hit by the crisis. This package will also encourage further partnerships between Ugandan and European entrepreneurs.
Team Europe – who are we?
In Uganda, Team Europe consists of:
- The Delegation of the European Union
- The EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
- 10 Member State missions to Uganda: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden
- Six Member State implementing agencies: ADA, AICS, Danida, Enabel, GIZ, Sida
- European financial institutions: the European Investment Bank, the German Development Bank KfW, the French Development Agency.
Team Europe acts in close cooperation with the Government of Uganda and non-governmental actors, including the private sector, as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator's office and the field offices of the relevant international organizations, in particular the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
At a global level, Team Europe coordinates closely with international fora (G7/G20/Paris Club) and with partners such as the WB, the IMF, the United Nations – in particular the World Health Organisation – and the Red Cross. Collectively, as a strong supporter of rules-based multilateralism, Team Europe remains the largest global donor and also provides the largest amount of funding to the regular budget of the United Nations. Team Europe also works with a large number of European non-governmental organisations to further strengthen our collective response.
How does Team Europe provide support in Uganda?
Team Europe provides support to Uganda through various means: we provide direct support to the Government, civil society and the private sector. Team Europe also finances United Nations agencies in Uganda as well as on a global and regional level, and it also provides funding to the UN Central Emergency Respond Fund and responds to the UN emergency appeals.
In general, Team Europe is one of Uganda's main development partners, disbursing grant funding of over 430 million euros a year to the government, civil society and through the UN system.
Press Contact:
Emmanuel Davies GYEZAHO
Phone +256 756719882