Africa-Press – Uganda. The government and the European Union have begun construction of a €10 million (Shs41 billion) climate-resilient and gender-responsive cross-border market in Elegu Town Council, Amuru District, to strengthen trade between Uganda and South Sudan.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi described Elegu as a key gateway to South Sudan and a strategic Northern Corridor hub that connects communities, supports traders, and drives economic growth.
“Hundreds of traders, formal and informal, cross this border daily to engage in business that sustains livelihoods, connects our communities, and contributes significantly to our economy,” Gen. Mbadi said.
He hailed the facility as a “platform for peace, trade, and economic transformation,” particularly for women, youth, and small-scale traders.
He commended the EU’s support, noting that the project will create opportunities, enable value addition, and foster sustainable growth.
Reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic, Gen. Mbadi emphasized the government’s commitment to monetising the economy, raising household incomes, and promoting export-led growth.
European Union Head of Green Transition and Private Sector, Sanne Willems, said the market will tackle challenges such as seasonal flooding and inadequate infrastructure.
The facility will host 1,500 traders and include daycare services, banking facilities, wheelchair access, flood mitigation works, and waste management systems.
“South Sudan is one of Uganda’s biggest export destinations, with USD 99.9 million in informal trade recorded in 2023,” Willems said.
“Yet 81% of women traders stop at the Elegu border due to safety, distance, and infrastructure challenges. This project will change that.”
Funded under the Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Programme, the market will also provide capacity-building for traders and border officials, improve access to finance through a cash facility, and support peacebuilding initiatives between the Elegu–Nimule communities.
Willems stressed that the market’s success will depend on good governance, regular maintenance, and inclusive management, and highlighted it as part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, implemented with Denmark and TradeMark Africa, to foster human development, peace, security, and job creation.
“The future of cross-border trade in Uganda is already taking shape,” Willems said, pledging continued EU support for Uganda’s trade and development agenda.
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