DEVELOPMENT RESPONSE TO DISASTER IMAPACTS PROJECT(DRDIP) 2019

 On Tuesday 20th August 2019, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, commissioned sub-projects under Development Response to Disaster Impacts Project (DRDIP) worth 1.4 billion Uganda shillings. The commissioned projects included: the full rehabilitation of Openzinzi - Obilokong road, the District Drug, and vaccines Store and 2 classroom blocks, 5 stances drainable latrine, lightning protection, 10000 L capacity stainless steel rain harvesting tanks at Biyaya Primary School.

Other projects that were later commissioned by the Resident District Commissioner, are; 2 classroom blocks at Fuda Primary School; OPD buildings, lightning protection, solar power unit & 10000 litre capacity stainless tank at Openzinzi Health Centre IIIs; construction of a OPD building, one block of 5 stance drainable latrine at Ajugopi health centre II and 1 classroom block, 3 blocks of stance drainable latrines & 10000L capacity stainless steel water tank at Unna Primary School.

James Pili Leku, the Adjumani District Chairman told the gathering that the district is in support of refugees and promised that the projects would benefit both refugees and host communities at all costs.

Charles Bafaki, the Principal Resettlement Officer in the OPM who is the Project Manager DRDIP stated that the project has three components of; infrastructure development which take 60% of the budget, environment with a budget of 30% while livelihood takes 10%. He assured the beneficiaries of the quality of the work done which he says will last for more than 50 years.

“I want to appeal to the people of Adjumani to take advantage of the facilities and also make use of new opportunities that will come with them.” Gen Moses Ali

While making his remarks, Gen Moses Ali said he was grateful to the people and leadership of Adjumani for accepting to host refugees but advised that a maintenance plan be designed so that the facilities will stand the test of time and meet people’s expectations.

“In fact, DRDIP which you are seeing today is an expansion of Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE) Program which translates into the political commitment of this country,” United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Country Representative, Joel Butros

DRDIP is a government program under OPM that provides development and direct income support to the poor and vulnerable within refugee hosting districts in Uganda. The main objective of the project is to improve access to basic social services, expand economic opportunities and enhance environmental management in refugee-hosting districts. Adjumani hosts 241,098 (51%) refugees while the nationals are 232, 813 (49%)