Uganda has moved to address long-standing infrastructure, sanitation, and cyclical climate vulnerabilities that have plagued traders in Elegu town, a key commercial zone in Northern Uganda.
This followed the the ground-breaking for the construction of a €9.9M (UGX 41B) climate resilient and gender-responsive market. The action, jointly funded by the European Union and Denmark, under the Global Gateway strategy, a Team Europe initiative, and implemented by TradeMark Africa in close partnership with the Government of Uganda, is expected to directly benefit over 5,000 households that depend on cross-border trade.
Elegu is a strategic trade gateway and Uganda’s third-largest informal export corridor. In 2022, over 1.3 million MT of goods valued at €189M (UGX 786B) was traded at this market that borders South Sudan.
However, Elegu’s vulnerability to flooding, especially during the two annual rainy seasons, has led to business closures, loss of stock and income, and repeated public health crises due to poor sanitation.
In addition, women, who make up 63% of informal cross-border traders at Elegu, along with persons with disabilities (PWDs), have borne the brunt due to caregiving responsibilities, physical accessibility limitations, and lack of safe infrastructure.
The 1st Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Kadaga said the project is a symbol of resilience, inclusion, and transformation.
She noted, “This partnership with European Union and the Embassy of Denmark, under Global Gateway, and TradeMark Africa, demonstrates what can be achieved when development is both collaborative and visionary.”
Adding, “Uganda is proud to lead the way with a border market that meets the realities of climate change while supporting our national and regional trade goals.”
The new market will be elevated above flood levels, incorporate climate-resilient infrastructure including reinforced drainage, permeable paving, stormwater retention basins, and green energy solutions like solar power and water harvesting.
Facilities will include 1,500 market vendor sheds, a restaurant, daycare centre, modern sanitation blocks, an on-site banking facility with affordable credit, and a grain handling and post-harvest storage facility.
The project will also improve transport logistics through the construction of a 450m access road connecting the market to the Gulu–Atiak–Nimule highway, and clearly demarcated loading bays and vehicle parking zones, streamlining the movement of goods and reducing post-harvest losses.
These changes target increased participation by women and PWDs by 30%, and longer trading hours by women, boosting their income by an estimated 15–25%.
Sanne Willems, EU Delegation to Uganda, Head of Green Transition and Private Sector revealed that the initiative is part of the broader Global Gateway strategy, as it shows how climate adaptation, gender inclusion, and trade development can go hand in hand.
“We are proud to support Uganda in creating a border economy that is strong, fair, and climate-proof,” said Sanne Willems.
The Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda, Signe Winding Albjerg added that the market is designed to promote inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure for cross border traders.
“We hope it will turn into an inspiration for others in the region. By putting climate resilience and those who are often left behind, like women, youth and persons with disabilities at the forefront, the project reflects Denmark’s commitment to green and inclusive growth and employment in Uganda.”
Amuru District LCV Chairperson Micheal Lakony, expressed appreciation for the project, noting: “For years, our traders have suffered the consequences of inadequate infrastructure, with markets washed away by floods and children falling sick due to poor sanitation.”
In her remarks, Allen Asiimwe, Deputy CEO at TradeMark Africa, said: “This market is an investment that embodies our core mission which is to increase sustainable and inclusive intra-African trade and exports to the rest of the world. We are not only building physical infrastructure but enabling economic opportunity and dignity for thousands of informal traders, particularly women and vulnerable groups.”
The ceremony, held in Elegu Town Council, was attended by dignitaries from the European Union Delegation to Uganda, the Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala, officials from Amuru District, TradeMark Africa, community leaders, and representatives of the trader associations operating at the border.