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U.S EXTENDS HUMANITARIAN AND HEALTH ASSISTANCE TOWARDS TACKLING EBOLA OUTBREAK

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  By Umar Weswala U.S. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin The Trump administration through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lead agency for the U.S. Government response to health emergencies has made response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a top priority and pledged millions of dollars towards humanitarian and health interventions. Within 48 hours of confirmation of cases, the Department of State activated a response plan and mobilized an initial $23 million in foreign assistance for immediate response efforts. According to a media release issued by the office of the spokesperson, this funding will bolster each country’s own response, supporting surveillance, laboratory capacity, risk communication, safe burials, entry and exit screening, and clinical case management. The U.S also announced a broad commitment to rapidly support the res...
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U.S launches Freedom 250 Campaign to celebrate American Innovation and Excellence in Uganda

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  By Umar Weswala Ambassador Popp (U.S Embassy in Uganda Photo) The U.S Embassy in Uganda has officially launched the Freedom 250: The American Edge Campaign, marking the beginning of a year long celebration of the United States’ 250 th anniversary and its long-standing partnership with Uganda. The launch evet was held at the U.S Ambassador’s residence in Uganda on May 7, 2026 and it brought together U.S and Uganda government officials, business leaders, alumni of U.S Exchange programs and members of the press. Speaking at the event, the U.S Ambassador William Popp noted that the Freedom 250 campaign is an opportunity to reaffirm that American values continue to guide the enduring partnership between the two countries. “When Ugandans partner with American businesses, study at U.S Universities or collaborate with U.S researchers, they gain world class technology, transparent business practices, cutting edge research, transformative education and networks to compete globally...
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Freedom 250 celebrates what we’ve accomplished together so far

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  Ambassador Popp (US Embassy Uganda Photo) By William W. Popp Good evening and welcome. It’s wonderful to see so many friends and partners tonight—alumni of U.S. exchange programs, business and government leaders, university partners, health professionals, and members of the press. Thank you for joining us for what is both a celebration and a new beginning. As many of you know, my time as U.S. Ambassador is drawing to a close. After nearly three years in this beautiful country, I’ll soon be saying goodbye. But before I do, I wanted to gather you here—the people who have made this partnership real—to launch something that will continue after I depart. Tonight, we officially launch  Freedom250: The American Edge —a campaign celebrating 250 years of American independence and the enduring partnership between the United States and Uganda.  Freedom 250 is an opportunity to reaffirm that American values continue to guide how we engage with partners like Uganda....
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ICELAND CONTRIBUTES ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO UNICEF TO STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN UGANDA

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New investments advance adolescent mothers’ empowerment and consolidate sustainable WASH services in schools and health facilities By Umar Weswala UNICEF Uganda Photo The Government of Iceland has contributed an additional US$5.5 million to UNICEF to scale up the Ugandan Government-led programs aimed at improving delivery of critical services to the most vulnerable children, adolescents and families across the country. Through two complementary investments, Iceland, a UNICEF strategic partner is advancing the implementation of national priorities in social protection, education, early childhood development and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems through government systems at national and sub-national levels. On 15th December 2025, Iceland and UNICEF signed a new multi-year grant of US$4 million to support Phase II of the program “Empowering Adolescent Mothers and Their Children – A Dual Generation Approach”, from 1 st January 2026 to 31 December 2029.   ...
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Swedish Government announces $2 million donation to UNICEF for Ebola response in Uganda

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  By Umar Weswala Minister Benjamin Dousa (C) addressing members of the press  The Government of Sweden has announced new funding of US$2 million to UNICEF, with the aim of strengthening the UN agency’s ongoing response to the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda. Mr. Benjamin Dousa, the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade revealed the new funding on 17 th March during a visit to Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, where UNICEF is contributing to the delivery of quality maternal and new-born care health services with funding from Sweden. According to a Press Release issued by UNICEF Uganda, the contribution which is an equivalent of approximately UGX 7.3 billion will be utilized by UNICEF over a period of five months to support the immediate priorities of the Government of Uganda’s national Sudan EVD plan with a focus on Kampala, its five political divisions, and the districts of Mbale and Jinja. The fo...
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Iceland donates US$1 million to UNICEF towards empowering adolescent mothers in Uganda

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Hildigunnur Engilbertsdóttir and UNICEF's Dr. Robin Nandy (Centre) during the agreement signing event By Umar Weswala: The Embassy of Iceland in Kampala and UNICEF have today signed an agreement worth US$1 million to empower vulnerable adolescent mothers and their children to access multi-sectoral and inclusive social protection, early childhood development and parenting support services. The 18 months partnership will allow UNICEF to link teenage mothers to protection, health, education, childcare and skilling services; provide mentorship and life-skills to teenage mothers; support low -cost early childhood education (ECD)   models in targeted communities and establish mobile early childhood development units and disability inclusive ECD kits to provide early learning opportunities for children in hard-to-reach communities. Speaking at the signing event, the Head of Mission, Embassy of Iceland to Uganda, Hildigunnur Engilbertsdóttir noted that the programme will extend fi...
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Sex workers ask Ugandan authorities to declare violence against women a national disaster

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  By Umar Weswala: Ubuntu's Caroline leading the placard protest  against Femicide in Uganda Female sex workers under the Network of Key Population Service Organisations (UNESO) and in collaboration with Ubuntu Law and Justice Center (UBUNTU) have asked the government of Uganda to declare Violence against women (including Femicide) a national disaster. This was contained in their joint press statement issued during a press conference held in Kampala on 8 th March in commemoration of this year’s international women’s day. Police and media reports show that vulnerable women, especially female sex workers still face horrific levels of violence from their purported clients and some security operatives who treat them as outlaws. In the last three months alone, UNESO reports that 8 sex workers were murdered but despite several arrests made, security agencies are yet to conduct a thorough, impartial and independent investigations into these murders. Speaking out against femi...
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