Africa-Press – Uganda. Denmark has reiterated its unwavering commitment to being a reliable partner to Uganda for many years to come.
Speaking during the celebration of the second annual partnership day held at her residence in Kololo, the Danish Ambassador to Uganda, Signe Winding Albjerg expressed commitment for continued cooperation that she said in anchored on trust, dialogue and a shared vision for lasting local impact.
“We reaffirm our commitment to collaboration and continue exchanging views, overcome differences and find solutions together,” Albjerg said.
During the day held under the theme “Power of Partnerships Delivering Together for Local Impact’ the Royal Danish Embassy in Uganda brought together key stakeholders to celebrate the annula partnership day.
Held on the Danish Constitution Day, the event celebrated the strength of Danish-Ugandan collaboration and its tangible impact on communities across the country.
The celebrations held in a festive and inclusive atmosphere inspired by Denmark’s unique “Folkemøde” (“People’s Meeting”) and created a vibrant space for open dialogue, engagement, and reflection.
The format also included elements of Uganda’s own Baraza tradition, symbolizing shared values of community-led dialogue and inclusive governance.
This year’s gathering also paid homage to Ugandan culture with the symbolic presence of the “Ekyoto” – a traditional fireplace representing community, storytelling, and the sharing of knowledge.
“We celebrate this day not as a classic National Day, but by offering a taste of a uniquely Danish event: ‘the People’s Meeting’. It’s a national festival of democracy where politicians, civil society groups, businesses, students, and citizens come together to discuss the future of our country”, said Albjerg.
Danish support to Uganda
Denmark has been a consistent supporter of Uganda’s refugee response, and the two countries collaborate on various sectors like education, health, infrastructure, and climate action.
Speaking on Thursday, the Danish ambassador said they are currently supporting Uganda in three areas including climate change adaptation, private sector support and in the refugee sector.
“At the moment we have a global strategy in Denmark that we are also mirroring here in Uganda focusing on climate change adaptation , private sector growth in the agriculture sector through training and also working in refugee areas to support refugees and their host communities in terms of resilience building, livelihoods and various health services. We are also working on accountability, civic engagement and rights supporting both civil society organisations to work on accountable governance.”
The Danish Ambassador also mentioned the work they are doing in supporting Ugandan coffee sector meet the required European Union standards in terms of their coffee exports.
“EU is the biggest importer of Ugandan coffee with about 60% of Ugandan coffee being exported to Europe. In Europe we have implemented new regulations about deforestation which Uganda supports. It is very difficult to document coffee is not produced from deforested land. So we have assisting with very big investments, the Ugandan coffee sector to document that they are deforestation free so they can live up to the regulations in Europe but also support cooperatives to come together to do more production and value addition.”
The event
Throughout the day, thematic tents buzzed with activity, mirroring the inclusive essence of the People’s Meeting.
From empowering civil society through local fundraising strategies, to exploring green and inclusive private sector models, and enhancing cooperation with local governments – the event demonstrated how shared efforts lead to sustainable, community-driven development.
The occasion also marked a full year since the launch of Denmark’s bilateral development programme in Uganda.
“It’s exciting to experience what a vibrant tapestry our partnerships have grown into. We believe that the most effective and sustainable change is achieved through genuine collaboration, shared responsibility, and a relentless focus on local needs and aspirations.”
The Ambassador emphasized the importance of open and honest dialogue and mutual respect. “For decades, Denmark has been a reliable, predictable and constructive partner to Uganda – always available to discuss freely and openly”.
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