Kiryandongo and Yumbe districts to benefit from AVSI Shs 46.2bln water and livelihoods project for refugees

KIRYANDONGO, February 25, 2026 — AVSI, an international development organisation, has officially launched a €11 million [approximately 46.2 billion] project aimed at improving water supply and promoting self-reliance among refugees in Kiryandongo and Yumbe districts.

The three-year initiative will target 7,000 households, focusing on building resilience and enabling sustainable livelihoods for people living in extreme poverty.

Speaking at the launch on Friday at the Kiryandongo district headquarters, Dr Ritah Laro of AVSI explained that the project adopts a sequenced and time-bound approach designed to help participants transition from extreme poverty to a cash-based economy.

“The project uses the graduation approach, which spans 12 to 24 months. Each participating household is assigned a coach and a trainer to guide them in acquiring skills, building assets and engaging in sustainable livelihoods,” Laro said.

She added that the graduation approach has been successfully piloted in other parts of Uganda, providing a model for scaling up interventions in refugee-hosting districts.

Anselm Kyaligonza, Chief Administrative Officer of Kiryandongo, welcomed the partnership and pledged the district’s full support for AVSI’s work.

He noted that, prior to endorsing the project, district officials conducted a benchmarking visit to Kyegegwa, where a similar initiative has delivered positive results.

“When we visited Kyegegwa, we saw first-hand how the graduation approach works, with compelling testimonies from participants. This gave me confidence to recommend AVSI’s programme to Kiryandongo,” Kyaligonza said.

He added that the project complements the district’s Parish Development Model [PDM] and has strong potential to lift targeted households out of extreme poverty by promoting savings and financial inclusion.

Dan Muganga, Resident District Commissioner of Kiryandongo, emphasised the importance of achieving tangible impact.

“This project specifically targets the extremely poor. By its conclusion, we should see participants achieving improved livelihoods and living better lives,” Muganga said.

He further noted that, given its alignment with the PDM, the graduation approach has attracted considerable interest from district leaders and other stakeholders for benchmarking and comparison.

The project is expected not only to improve access to clean water but also to empower refugee-hosting communities to develop sustainable sources of income, strengthening resilience and reducing dependence on humanitarian assistance.

AVSI plans to implement the interventions in a structured and time-bound manner, ensuring that all participants are equipped to graduate from extreme poverty into self-reliant, economically active households.

The launch marks a significant step towards improving the welfare of refugees and vulnerable host communities in Uganda, and sets a model for integrated livelihoods and water interventions across refugee-hosting districts.

https://thecooperator.news/excitement-as-over-5000-refugees-receive-relief-food-in-kiryandongo/