By Obinna Uballa
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has unveiled two interventions this week: a $500,000 emergency relief grant to support communities devastated by floods and landslides in Uganda, and a new partnership with South Africa’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to combat financial crime and strengthen anti-corruption frameworks across the continent.
In a statement released in Abidjan on Friday, the Bank said its Board of Directors approved the grant from the institution’s Special Relief Fund to finance Uganda’s Relief Emergency Response Project. The initiative targets communities in Bulambuli, Kasese, and Ntoroko districts that were severely hit by flooding and landslides following torrential rains in August.
According to local authorities, the heavy downpour between August 17 and 19 triggered floods in the mountainous Bulambuli, Sironko, and Mbale districts and landslides in nearby Namisindwa.
The disasters left five people dead, 50 others injured, about 2,000 homes destroyed, and 5,000 displaced. An estimated 15,000 residents were affected overall, many of whom remain in makeshift camps.
The AfDB grant will fund the provision of family-size tents to accommodate about 1,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs), improving conditions in the overcrowded camps, the statement said.
“Beyond emergency relief, the project is an investment in dignity, safety, and recovery,” said Mercuria Assefaw, the Bank’s Division Manager for Water Security and Sanitation. She explained that the intervention would not only provide immediate shelter but also stimulate local economies through procurement and logistics.
The project will be implemented by the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda through the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management. With activities expected to be completed within six months, the Bank says it is prioritising rapid procurement and efficient delivery to ensure displaced families receive timely relief.
While responding to humanitarian needs in Uganda, the Bank said it is also deepening its governance agenda across Africa. On July 3, 2025, its Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa’s Special Investigations Unit. The pact establishes a framework for cooperation in information sharing, technical assistance, research, and capacity building aimed at tackling corruption and financial crime.
The agreement was signed in Pretoria by PIAC Director, Paula Santos Da-Costa, and Advocate Andy Mothibi, Head of the SIU.
Da-Costa hailed the partnership as a critical step in ensuring that public resources and development finance are applied for their intended purposes. She noted that SIU’s expertise in asset recovery provides a valuable platform for knowledge exchange. “There are areas of collaboration where both organizations can learn from each other, especially in strengthening integrity reviews in infrastructure projects,” she said.
Mothibi, in his remarks, emphasised that operationalising the agreement through concrete workplans would be key. He observed that the timing coincides with South Africa’s presidency of the G20, offering opportunities to elevate issues such as public integrity, asset recovery, border management, and whistleblower protection in global governance discussions.
