Uganda

Uganda hosts over 1.9million refugees, making it Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country. In Palabek Refugee Settlement alone 90,000 refugees, of whom 83% women and children, face challenges in accessing education and protection services. Today, Save the Children is launching “Strengthening education and child protection services for refugee children in Palabek Settlement, Northern Uganda”, a two-year project in partnership with a Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO/Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. The project is supported through UNIQLO’s PEACE FOR ALL global campaign.

Save the Children signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals in order to strengthen child protection within Uganda’s fast-growing mineral sector. The signing took place in October during the 14th Annual Mineral Wealth Conference held at Serena Kampala.

Save the Children Uganda was recognized and appreciated by the Ministry of Health and the Committee of Experts on the National Safe Motherhood Committee for its outstanding contribution to strengthening the policy environment, planning, and monitoring and evaluation of Adolescent Health and School Health programmes. This recognition further highlighted our role in supporting the implementation of the National Adolescent Health Costed Implementation Plan (ADH CIP) and in building the coordination capacity of districts heavily burdened by teenage pregnancy.

The Food Security and Nutrition project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan commissioned a new mini-irrigation scheme in Tapac Parish, valued at $143,700, marks a transformative moment for local farmers. For communities long challenged by unpredictable weather and water scarcity, this scheme provides a reliable water source, enabling year-round cultivation, improved yields, and a stronger defense against climate shocks. Simultaneously, the inauguration of a new Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Corner at Kalemungole Health Centre II provides a vital resource for mothers and caregivers, offering the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure proper nutrition during a child’s critical first 1,000 days.

1. What inspired you to join this organization 10 years ago?Save the Children was an employer of choice. Many colleagues in the NGO I was working with were moving to Save the Children. When I saw an opportunity that resonated with where I wanted to go next in my career, I did not hesitate to apply.

Funded by Save the Children Korea and implemented by Save the Children Uganda, the Karamoja GOATS project works to improve nutrition and livelihoods for vulnerable households in Moroto District. Launched in March 2021 and initially rolled out in Rupa and Tapac sub-counties, the project empowers women by providing goats and vegetable seeds, directly combating malnutrition. The first phase concluded in June 2024, successfully addressing immediate nutritional needs while laying the groundwork for long-term food security. Now in its second phase, the project is strengthening its impact and expanding support to reach more households.

Patricia is a 15-year-old girl who is using knowledge attained from the safe family training at her school to influence her parents to take her sister back to disabilities back to school. Her sister had dropped out of school due to the negative attitude of her parents towards children with disabilities

Maureen is a 13-year-old pupil in Primary 6 in Moroto Municipal Council Primary School. She lives with her mother, and 3 siblings in Kakoliye Close 2 village, South Division subcounty, Moroto Municipality.

Save the Children, through its School Health and Nutrition Project, is driving an innovative waste management solution in Wakiso schools by transforming waste plastic bottles into waste disposal bins. This innovation is being implemented in 82 schools across the district, empowering learners and health club patrons to actively participate in these sustainable waste management practices.

The world is recognising the impact of local initiatives’ said one of our local partners, having been involved in an innovative approach to localisation in Education Cannot Wait’s Multi-Year Resilience Programme II in Uganda (MYRP II). As a result of purposefully developing more equitable avenues for funding, 29% of ECW’s investment to Save the Children is now being implemented through local and national NGOs (L/NNGOs). This is a large increase on the MYRP I and more than the global target set by the Grand Bargain. We encourage others to take inspiration from this approach, so that we can drive progress towards our collective commitments to reallocate power, influence and resources more directly to communities.

The growing children refugee influx in Uganda (over one million refugee children) prompted urgent action from Save the Children and partners under the Building Resilient Inclusive Systems for Locally Led Education and Protection project (RISE project). According to the Uganda Comprehensive Refugee Response Portal[1], Uganda currently hosts 1,898,338 refugees[2] and over million of these are children. [1] Country - Uganda, [https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/uga] Accessed on 27th Aug, 2025[2] Ibid. The figures were last updated on 31st July 2025. (They are updated on end of month basis)

TENDER FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO CONDUCT U-LEARN EXTERNAL IMPACT EVALUATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 12:00 PM ON 11th August 2025PRE-SUBMISSION CLARIFICATION MEETING: N/AQUESTIONS / CLARIFICATIONS: uganda.coprocurement@savethechildren.orgFORMAT FOR SUBMISSION: BIDDER RESPONSE DOCUMENT

Thirteen-year-old Moses, a pupil at Atedeoi Primary School in Moroto District, is one of many children in Karamoja whose lives are being positively transformed thanks to the investment of Save the Children Korea (SCK). Through the Integrated Education Project for Karamoja (IEPK), Giving Ownership to Prevent Stunting (also known as the Karamoja GOATS project), and the Karamoja Hunger Intervention (KHI), Save the Children Korea is helping build a more resilient, educated generation in one of Uganda’s most vulnerable regions.

11th June,2025- International Day of PlayAs seen in the poster image, Hon. Joyce Kaducu, Minister of State for Education plays with children on International Day of Play. The Wakiso Sponsorship Program team pulled off this joyful celebration of childhood. On the International Day of Play, children, teachers, and community members in Wakiso came together to champion the right to play under the theme “Choose Play – Every Day.” From vibrant games to storytelling, creative arts, and music, the event was a lively reminder that play is not just fun it is essential. Children led the day with laughter, creativity, and energy, showcasing how play supports learning, social skills, and emotional well-being.

Save the Children Uganda officially launched its Localization Strategy, reaffirming its commitment to placing local actors and communities at the heart of development and humanitarian action. The strategy was designed through a participatory process and seeks to deepen engagement with local partners, government institutions, staff, and communities by leveraging their unique knowledge, capabilities, and leadership. This aligns with Uganda’s national frameworks, including Vision 2040, the Refugee Response Plan, and the National Development Plan IV, as well as the draft Uganda Localization Strategy.

Save the Children Uganda convened a dialogue between members of the Children’s Advisory Committee and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), creating a impactful platform for children to directly voice their priorities, experiences, and recommendations. The meeting, financially supported by the Girls as Drivers of Change Project, had children from all our regions of intervention (development and humanitarian) who are championing change in their communities through advocacy on issues such as education, protection, and gender equality.

Sixteen-year-old Maobi had never been in a classroom. She was left behind by her mother who returned to Congo three years ago. Having been left behind, Maobi and her siblings were fostered by a compassionate member of a local Child Protection Committee in Nakivale.

Loput, a 14-year-old pupil at Nadunget Primary School in Moroto District, continues to demonstrate resilience and determination in her educational journey despite numerous challenges. A debilitating injury at a stone quarry left her with a painful back, limiting her mobility and physical activities.

Save the Children is committed to advancing localization by building the capacity of local partners to lead in humanitarian response. In Nakivale Refugee Settlement, this commitment came to life through a successful collaboration with the Agency for Women, Youth, and Adolescent Development (AWYAD), a local partner implementing Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) programming.

We have been alerted that individuals are falsely claiming to represent Save the Children in Bushenyi, where they are allegedly registering school pupils for bursaries and soliciting UGX 200,000 per child.

The growing child protection crisis in Arua District and City prompted urgent action from Save the Children Uganda. Reports indicate that more than 700 child abuse cases are registered every three months, ranging from defilement and neglect to physical abuse-often fueled by poverty, alcoholism, and harmful cultural practices.

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) and Save the Children in Uganda hosted the Humanitarian Xchange (HX) in Kampala under the theme, “Locally Led Response in East Africa – Adaptation and Resilience.” HX serves as a platform to bridge the gap between international humanitarian actors and local responders, ensuring that crisis-affected communities have a direct voice in shaping humanitarian action.

The Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL) in a panel discussion at Hive Colab-Kanjokya, social entrepreneurs from across Uganda gathered to explore how enterprises can grow without compromising their social mission.

Youth Led Organisations (YLO), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other stakeholders were supported by SCI to collaboratively develop an advocacy engagement focusing on key issues affecting youth in their district. Notably, Nwoya District identified addressing high child pregnancy rates as a priority.

The Karamoja GOATS project, implemented by Save the Children Uganda with funding from Save the Children Korea (SCK), was launched in March 2021 to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in Moroto District. The project focused on supporting agropastoral households, especially women, by providing goats to improve food security and boost livelihoods.

Learning is key to strengthening policies, programs, and coordination in Uganda’s refugee response actors. Over the past five years, U-Learn has played a pivotal role in generating, synthesizing, and disseminating evidence to support adaptive programming and continuous learning. Through cross-sectoral exchange, U-Learn has helped drive the uptake of insights on best practices, challenges, and innovations across key thematic areas.

During a meeting with district officials at the Moroto local government, one official remarked, “Karamoja’s problem is water. Once you solve the water problem in Karamoja, you will have solved Karamoja’s problems.” This statement presents a complex paradox, and anyone who has worked in Karamoja would likely agree with it.

My name is Esther. Iam in Primary 4, 14 years old. Before the Team Up Games I used to have a lot of thoughts, I would isolate myself and would escape from school. My friends and I used to be unhappy, fight with one another and think of the world ending.

The climate crisis is fundamentally and irreparably reshaping our world, with grave implications on the rights of current and future generations of children. The month of March was marked by scorching heatwaves and shortly after, April was marked by seasonal rainstorms characterized by flooding, loss of lives of both children and adults and property in Kampala and most parts of the country including North, North-Eastern and West Nile.

Uganda hosts the largest refugee population in Africa at a time when the refugee influx is increasing, and the impacts of climate change are placing further strain on communities and ecosystems. As a longstanding partner of the Uganda refugee response, Denmark and Save the Children are pleased to launch the Western regional roll-out of the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative in the district of Kyegegwa.