Since 2007, CRS Uganda has been one of six CRS country programs implementing the Great Lakes Cassava Initiative (GLCI). Cassava is a staple crop for many families but food production has been greatly reduced by diseases attacking the plants. The GLCI program helps farmers recognize and mitigate the effects of the disease, and also supports the National Agriculture Research Organization in developing new disease- resistant varieties. In Uganda, the initiative has helped more than 106,000 farmers and families.

CRS Uganda also supports coffee and maize farmers in Western Uganda, teaching them new production technologies and training them in marketing and business development. Farmer groups join together to more effectively negotiate with buyers, transporters, storage facilities and other market chain actors for better prices, resulting in higher profits.

Uganda is a disaster-prone area with a history of conflict, landslides, flooding, drought and pestilence. During the conflict period involving the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, CRS provided shelter for night commuters, water and sanitation for people living in displacement camps, and hosted agriculture fairs that enabled families to access seeds, tools and small livestock. Other emergency interventions have included the provision of essential items for survivors of the Soroti floods and the Baduda mudslides, as well as for Kenyan and Congolese refugees fleeing violence in their countries.

HIV Care and Treatment
CRS provides HIV care, treatment and anti-retroviral therapy to vulnerable men, women and children. Since 2002, the CRS-led AIDSRelief consortium has helped 18 local partners strengthen their operations, and has assisted community volunteers who provide critical home-based care and support to people with HIV. Support services include counseling and testing, management of tuberculosis and HIV, prevention of mother to child transmission, support of orphans and vulnerable children, abstinence counseling, and "be faithful" prevention programs. AIDSRelief has also provided training and mentoring in financial management, human resources and governance. As a result, CRS' partner sites—hospitals and clinics—are better equipped to manage their overall operations.

Antenatal Care and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
Every year, mother to child transmission of HIV is responsible for the preventable infections that arise during labor, delivery and breastfeeding. Since 2007, CRS has worked in partnership with the Ugandan government to promote the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV through antenatal care.

Families in rural Uganda have little or no access to financial services, and face greater hardships during emergencies or after a poor harvest. CRS helps these families establish secure savings systems through Savings and Internal Lending Community (SILC) groups. Although the groups are open to all community members, the majority of members who meet regularly to contribute are women. In just four years, SILC has directly assisted more than 114,000 Ugandans to access loans and credit, improving their economic standing and helping them to withstand financial crises. Participation in these groups has also led to greater empowerment of women in decisions affecting their families.

For 20 years, Northern Uganda was paralyzed by civil war. In an effort to ensure lasting peace, CRS and its partners have been working to address land conflicts through community mediation and dialogue. CRS and partners provide a platform for all community members, including women and young people, to resolve disputes at the community level rather than through the more time and resource intensive court process. Core peacebuilding activities include training in conflict resolution, increasing awareness of citizen's rights and land ownership, as well as community events and radio programs that promote peacebuilding and environmental awareness.

Uganda is blessed with adequate, albeit erratic, rainfall throughout much of the country. Conflicts often arise over water resources due to issues regarding uneven access and availability, especially after floods or droughts. Through sustainable watershed management, CRS works with communities to ensure that there is sufficient and equitable use of available water for both domestic and productive use. By managing their water sources more effectively, rural communities are able to increase water access for their animals and agriculture, the main sources of income for most Ugandans.