Japan has earmarked shillings one billion to cushion the vulnerable across the country.

The agreement confirming the assistance was signed between the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda Fukuzawa Hidemoto and representatives of the four recipient organisations at the Japanese Embassy in Nakasero, Kampala, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

According to the ambassador, of the 400 organisations which applied for grant assistance for grassroots human security projects last year, only four were selected.

“Health and education are one of the key sectors we finance in Uganda,” Hidemoto said.

Fukuzawa Hidemoto Ambassador of Japan to Uganda addressing the congregation during the signing ceremony of grant contracts. (Photo by Godiver Asege)

The grant is for the construction of a classroom block at Obalanga Primary School in Kapelebyong and Apuuton Primary School in Katakwi districts and construction of an outpatient ward at Busiriba Health Centre II in Kamwenge district.

It is also for the improvement of hygiene and sanitation in Kigaragara Vocational Secondary School in Kashumba sub-county, Isingiro district.

ACORD Uganda country director Ellen Kajura Bajenja thanked the Embassy of Japan for maintaining trust and confidence in their organisation.

ACORD Uganda is one of the beneficiaries of the grant from Japan.

Bajenja revealed that in 2017, ACORD Uganda received support from the Japanese embassy to improve sanitation conditions for seven primary schools in Isingiro.

“The grant was a very important contribution to improving the hygiene situation in these schools,” Bajenja said.

She added that the shillings 295 million grant given to them is for the construction of rainwater harvesting tanks with a powered pump and two latrine blocks in Kigaragara in Isingiro district.