By our reporter
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Uganda welcomes a generous contribution of 1,159 metric tons of rice valued at USD 2.2 million from the Government of Japan.
The contribution will enable WFP to provide hot meals to newly arriving refugees at reception and transit centres across Uganda in 2026.
“Japan remains committed to working hand in hand with Uganda and its partners to address humanitarian challenges,” said Norimasa Yoshida, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Uganda.
He added, “Our contribution will enable WFP to serve hot, nutritious meals to refugees during their first days in Uganda-those critical moments when families arrive at reception and transit centers after long and exhausting journeys, often with very few belongings and facing immediate uncertainty about their future”
Uganda today hosts 1.9 million refugees, the highest number on the African continent. In 2025 alone, Uganda welcomed nearly 145,000 newly displaced refugees from conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, refugees have limited livelihood opportunities to sustain themselves and continue to depend on humanitarian assistance.
Lauren Landis, WFP Uganda’s Country Director, commended the Government of Japan for their timely contribution.
“Japan’s rice contribution will be used in reception and transit centres where refugees arrive immediately after crossing the border,” she said.
She added, “Before they are allocated land by the government, WFP provides hot meals to them in temporary shelters. This rice will offer much-needed energy and warmth and ensure that the most vulnerable receive dignified support at their moment of greatest need”.
The undersecretary Refugees and Disaster at the office of the Prime Minister Ms Jane Nantale who represented the Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza emphasised the importance of international partnership.
“Sustaining this humanitarian response under our progressive Open Door refugee policy requires strong international partnership and shared responsibility-a principle that Japan has consistently embodied. By ensuring food availability at entry points, Japan is directly supporting the stability and security of our refugee response. This contribution assures us that in our effort to provide sanctuary to the displaced, Uganda does not walk alone.”
In May 2025, severe funding challenges forced WFP to suspend assistance to one million refugees while drastically reducing rations for 700,000 others. WFP’s data shows that targeted food assistance has reduced food insecurity among the most vulnerable refugees who continue to receive assistance, but severe food insecurity has increased among unassisted refugee households. WFP requires an additional