Uganda is among the most rapidly advancing countries of Africa. Having said that, this statement does not apply in equal measure to the entire country. Large sections of the North have retained their low development status, and are being devastated by internal conflicts. More than 1 million have been internally displaced by the war along the border with Sudan that has raged for 18 years. More than 20,000 children have been abducted, and abused by the rebels as child soldiers and sex slaves.

Uganda has made notable progress in AIDS control, although the positive results achieved have largely been confined to the urban zones in the South. The considerable number of AIDS orphans still pose a major challenge for the whole country.

MISEREOR’s vision for Uganda, which it is seeking to achieve by supporting its partners’ programmes, is a balanced development process for all parts of the country. MISEREOR’s priorities include helping to eliminate human rights violations, and supporting the displaced and those traumatised by violence.

MISEREOR’s partners in Uganda include both non-governmental organisations and Church-based institutions. Almost all Dioceses have established Diocesan Development Offices to coordinate the planning, steering and reporting activities of Church-based programmes.

Focal areas of cooperation currently include rural development, gender, and capacity building for our established partners. In view of the forthcoming elections and the conflict situation in the North, conflict transformation, peace education and civil education have now been added to HIV/AIDS as cross-cutting themes.