The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, has met with Dr. Jennifer Jones, the President of Rotary International, who is in the country on a nine-day visit.
Jennifer Jones will assess the impact of work done by Rotarians in the country.
Speaking at the meeting held in Kampala, Nabbanja asked for support from Rotary International, especially on matters to do with refugees.
She told her guests that Uganda currently hosts over 1.5 million refugees, which has come with a number of challenges hence the request for support.
Nabbanja said due to Covid-19, most of the development partners that used to support the refugees and host communities cut the budget leaving the load to the government.
“This causes challenges on our refugee hosting communities. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, many development partners cut their budget. We know we are almost there but we still need support.”
“The support we get from our development partners are dwindling, Uganda is overstretched, we still need support to help people who are looking for safety,” she said.
Nabbanja also used the opportunity to commend Rotary International for the support it has rendered to Uganda so far.
In her speech, Jones said they are looking at a world that is a stronger place for everyone to live and see cooperation in the communities unprecedented.
She said the humanitarian role being played by Uganda is remarkable.
Jones added that the current issues raised need critical concern with immediate and support.
She will be visiting Nakivale refugee settlement to assess the situation and meet some of the rotary leaders in the settlements.
Uganda is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world with 1,529,904 refugees (as of 28 February 2022).
Uganda has friendly policies that provide rights to the refugees such as; rights to education, work, private property, healthcare and other basic social services, however, these come with a cost and toll to the country.
Earlier before the meeting, Jones visited the Nsambya Rotary Cancer Unit.
At Nsambya hospital, Jones said that the ongoing development at Nsambya is a sign of hope to all cancer patients in Uganda and the region.
Dr. Andrew Sekitoleko, the Chief Executive Officer Nsambya Hospital, said the fight against Cancer in Uganda is still wanting but noted with determination and right care, cancer will become history in Uganda.
In Uganda, an estimated 33,000 Ugandans are diagnosed with cancer every year, of which, only about 7400 make it for care at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
Every year, 10 million people around the world die from cancer. It is estimated that 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Estimates suggest that by 2030, cancer deaths around the world will increase to 13 million people.
Uganda has 33,000 new cancer cases every year but loses 21,300 cancer patients every year which is about 60% of all new cases.