The European Union delegation to Uganda has said it will release Euros 30 million about (Shs120 billion) in budget support to Uganda amidst #COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press statement, EU said their priority is to save lives and heal the sick but above all support health and economic systems.
“To help Uganda address both the health emergency caused by the #Covid-19 pandemic and its longer-term socio-economic impacts, the European Union (EU) Delegation to Uganda is re-focussing its existing cooperation and mobilizing additional funding. The EU will disburse a total grant amount of Eur30 million (around Shs120 billion) to Uganda’s National Treasury. This sum will be made available by urgently speeding up budget support disbursements due later this year. Part of this amount will be directed to support the short-term response of the Ministry of Health to the pandemic” reads the statement sent to newsrooms.
The European Union further said that its Member States are working to contain the spread of the Coronavirus both in Europe and beyond. “Our joint priority is to save lives, heal the sick, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen research, support health systems and economies”.
It adds “The European Union stands by Uganda in the fight against Covid-19. The Coronavirus pandemic requires united, global action in response. This is a global fight that we will either win or lose together,” said EU Head of Delegation to Uganda, H.E Ambassador Attilio Pacifici. “The re-focussing of our support to Uganda is part of a global exercise that the EU is undertaking to help address this crisis in Africa and beyond.” Additional support to the work done by the Ministry of Health to implement the #Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan will also be provided through civil society:
The delegation said that the EU Delegation will reorient some of the existing programmes and launch new calls for proposals amounting Eur2 million (about Shs8 billion) for example to raise awareness on hygiene and to curb domestic violence. “Furthermore, the EU in Uganda is also well aware that private sector, the biggest job provider in Uganda, is being hit very hard by the #Covid-19. In follow-up to the highly successful Uganda-Europe Business Forum on 9-10 March 2020, we will bring Ugandan private sector access to finance,” said Ambassador Pacifici.
“More will follow in the coming weeks in partnership with the government of Uganda and the EU Member States.” additional grants and guarantees to contribute, facilitate and broaden European and Ugandan private sector access to finance,” said Ambassador Pacifici.
