European Union Provides Additional €3 Million to Strengthen Education Access for Refugee and Host Community Children in Uganda

 
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

As Europe Day 2026 was celebrated on Saturday, 9 May 2026, and as the European Union marks 50 years of partnership with Uganda since the establishment of the EU Delegation in Kampala in 1976, the European Union, through its humanitarian funding, has provided an additional €3 million to the Building Resilient Inclusive Systems for Locally Led Education and Protection (RISE) Project in Uganda. This additional funding, allocated through the Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP) 2026, builds on the EU’s initial €5 million contribution in 2025 and further strengthens efforts to ensure that refugee and Ugandan children affected by displacement can access safe, inclusive, and quality education. The additional funding is accompanied by a project time extension from February 2027 to April 2027, enabling partners to consolidate gains and sustain impact. 

“The EU remains committed to supporting the Government of Uganda’s effort’s in ensuring inclusive, equitable, quality and non-discriminatory access to education for all children, including refugees and Ugandans in host communities. said Liam Kelly, the Head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Uganda. This project underscores the EU’s priority for forcibly displaced children to be rapidly enrolled in school within three months of their arrival, to ensure continuous access to learning and protection. In 2026, to address teacher shortages, the EU provided targeted incentives to strengthen the teaching workforce and continues to support the Government of Uganda and its progressive transition of schools to government-led management, thus strengthening national ownership.” 

Implemented by a consortium led by Save the Children, in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Education Local Expertise Centre Uganda (ELECU), Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Humanitarian Assistance and Development Services (HADS), Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC), and Katalemwa Cheshire Home for Rehabilitation Services (KCH), the RISE project supports refugee and host community children in eight (8) refugee hosting districts. The additional €3 million allocated now is strategically directed at addressing critical barriers to education, including teacher shortages and financial constraints faced by vulnerable households. A significant portion of the funding will support the recruitment and deployment of additional teachers, helping to reduce overcrowding in classrooms and ensure continuity of access to education for children whose education has been disrupted by conflict and displacement.

The project will additionally distribute cash to address financial barriers to accessing education, providing timely and unconditional cash transfers to vulnerable households to help meet essential education-related costs. This support is expected to improve enrolment, attendance, and retention, particularly for children at heightened risk of dropping out. Commenting on the expansion of the project, the Save the Children Country Director, Famari Barro, said: “We are grateful to the European Union for this additional funding and its overall engagement in Uganda, which allows us to respond more effectively to the evolving education needs of refugee and host community children in Uganda. This support will enable the RISE consortium to address critical teacher gaps, reduce pressure on overcrowded classrooms, and provide cash for education support to families who are struggling to keep their children in school. Through this additional funding, we will reach more children with integrated education and protection services, ensuring that all children – including girls and boys, newly arrived refugees, children with disabilities, and those at risk of dropping out can access and remain in school. Together with our partners, we remain committed to delivering sustainable, high quality education outcomes for every child.”
With the additional funding, RISE will expand beyond its current areas of implementation—Nakivale, Rwamwanja, and Kyangwali to reach children in Adjumani, Palabek, Rhino Camp, Kiryandongo, and Palorinya refugee settlements. 

Across all locations, RISE continues to prioritise access to education and protection services for out of school children, newly arrived refugees, and those at risk of dropping out. The programme supports enrolment, retention, and transition into learning, strengthens teaching capacity to improve learning outcomes, and promotes child protection through community based mechanisms. It also contributes to stronger education systems at district, school, and community levels. 
Through its expanded programming, RISE remains committed to adaptive and efficient programming. Through adjustments to implementation, resources have been redirected toward high priority interventions such as teacher recruitment and expanded financial support to households, ensuring the programme remains responsive to evolving needs and delivers timely, meaningful results for children and communities affected by displacement.
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About the RISE Consortium
The RISE consortium brings together national and international partners to deliver integrated education, child protection, and financial support interventions for refugee and host community children in Uganda. By leveraging each partner’s expertise and presence, RISE ensures that the most vulnerable children can access safe, inclusive, and quality learning opportunities.
Contact
Rachel Hopkins,
Programme Development and Quality Director, Save the Children International, Uganda
rachel.hopkins@savethechildren.org