UN Makes $316 Million Emergency Coronavirus Appeal for Uganda

(Bloomberg) --

The United Nations Thursday launched an emergency appeal of $316 million for Uganda, where more than a fifth of the population lives below the poverty line, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The aid will target the provision of health, food security and livelihood for at least 12.8 million people including 1.4 million refugees for six months, Rosa Malango, the UN Resident Coordinator in the country told reporters in the capital, Kampala.

The UN is mobilizing the aid in collaboration with at least 20 partner organizations, including local non-governmental groups, she said.

The UN’s appeal will complement the government’s efforts to raise 170 billion shillings ($44.9 billion) from the public to stem the spread of the virus, Mary Karooro Okurut, Minister of General Duties in the Prime Minister’s Office told reporters. The East African nation has 61 confirmed cases, Okurut said.

Lawmakers earlier this month approved a supplementary budget of 284 billion shillings for the 2019-20 fiscal year to combat the pandemic.

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