KAMPALA, Uganda — In a significant development for humanitarian aid across Africa, the government of Uganda and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have formalized an agreement to launch a Global Fleet Emergency Hub in Kampala.
This strategic partnership is poised to revolutionize how emergency assistance is deployed across the continent, addressing crises ranging from conflict and natural disasters to the escalating effects of climate change.
The new facility will serve as a critical operational base for the world’s largest humanitarian organization, enabling the rapid mobilization of life-saving resources. The scale of WFP’s operations in Uganda is already immense; in 2024, the agency distributed 173,745 metric tons of food assistance to 545 locations within the country, supporting over two million people.
Furthermore, Uganda served as a vital transit corridor, moving 10,000 metric tons of relief supplies for partner organizations and transiting an additional 33,000 metric tons to neighboring nations, including Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With the establishment of the Global Fleet Hub, WFP anticipates a substantial increase in its regional operational capacity.
Marcus Prior, the WFP Country Director for Uganda, noted that the facility will function as a primary launchpad for emergency interventions.
“When conflicts displace populations in the Great Lakes region, Kampala will be the launch point for a coordinated response,” said Prior.
He further emphasized that by collaborating with various partners, the agency aims to ensure that when crises occur, “help will arrive faster, reach further, and save more lives.”
The choice of Kampala as the host city was driven by its unique logistical advantages. General Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, highlighted the country’s readiness to facilitate such a large-scale operation.
“Uganda’s geographic position at the heart of East Africa, combined with our robust transport infrastructure and progressive trade facilitation policies, makes Kampala the natural choice for this continental logistics hub,” said Katumba.
A key component of this agreement involves the introduction of specialized number plates for the UN/WFP fleet. Manufactured locally under the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) Programme, these plates incorporate advanced security hardware and software designed to expedite fleet movement.
By eliminating the cumbersome deregistration and re-registration processes usually required at borders, the initiative aims to cut administrative red tape and reduce costs.
“The distinctive UN/WFP plates represent more than administrative efficiency; they symbolise our collective commitment to ensuring that emergency supplies reach those in need without delay,” Katumba added.
Damir Makhmutov, the ITMS project manager responsible for providing the specialized plates, praised Uganda’s proactive approach to modernizing its logistics framework.
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He noted that it was encouraging to witness the country taking a leading role in international programs, stating that stakeholders are “very proud of the government’s strategy and determination in developing the transport sector,” a move expected to accelerate development both nationally and regionally.
Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo, underscored that this agreement reinforces the country’s longstanding tradition of humanitarian solidarity.
Already host to Africa’s largest refugee population, Uganda is now set to export its capacity for care.
“By hosting the WFP Global Fleet Hub, we are extending our humanitarian leadership beyond our borders. This agreement demonstrates that when we invest in logistics infrastructure and remove bureaucratic barriers, we save lives not just in Uganda, but across the entire continent,” said Odongo.
