The Government is developing a National Social Register to identify poor and vulnerable households eligible to benefit from the fourth phase of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV).
NUSAF IV is a five-year, World Bank-backed social protection and development programme implemented by the Government through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). It aims to improve access to basic services, expand economic opportunities, and promote environmental management.
The programme is also intended to support sustainable livelihoods, strengthen the resilience of poor and vulnerable households to economic and environmental shocks, and improve Uganda’s adaptive social protection systems.
Speaking during an orientation meeting for Lango district leaders ahead of the programme’s rollout, the Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Beatrice Akello Akori, said the government would use the National Social Register, which is currently being developed, to ensure that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Akori also warned local leaders against mismanaging programme funds, cautioning that those found culpable would face legal consequences.
NUSAF IV was approved in March 2025 and became effective on April 21, 2026. The programme is scheduled to close on December 31, 2031. However, government officials say unavoidable delays have cost the programme a year of its implementation period.
Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, said the National Social Register would improve beneficiary identification and programme implementation by providing reliable data, unlike previous government interventions that, he said, lacked accurate information on intended beneficiaries.
Kakooza urged the 104 local governments implementing the programme to ensure timely execution of activities to minimise further delays.
Meanwhile, some local government leaders called for accountability not only among officials responsible for implementing the programme but also among beneficiaries who misuse the funds.
They argued that beneficiaries found mismanaging the money should also be arrested and prosecuted rather than leaving enforcement measures to target local leaders and programme implementers alone.
NUSAF is a series of World Bank-backed government programmes established to support post-conflict recovery, reduce poverty, and promote socio-economic development in Northern Uganda and surrounding regions.
The first and second phases, NUSAF I and II, focused on community-driven development, livelihood support, and the rehabilitation of socio-economic infrastructure in areas affected by conflict. Investments included classrooms, dormitories, science laboratories, and health facilities, alongside efforts to strengthen local institutions across 40 affected districts.
NUSAF III shifted towards direct household income support, labour-intensive public works, disaster risk financing, and stronger anti-corruption oversight through the Inspectorate of Government.
Through NUSAF IV, the government intends to build on these interventions, with the National Social Register expected to play a central role in identifying eligible households and improving the targeting of social protection assistance-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
