KAMPALA–The Government of Uganda has received a grant from the 11th European Development Funds towards a new programme Development Initiative of Northern Uganda (DINU).
According to the permanent secretary Office of the Prime Minister Ms Christine Guwatudde Kintu, the Shs 668.5b project will operate in selected districts of Lango, Acholi, Karamoja and Teso sub-regions for the next five years.
Ms Guwatudde explained that the Programme is intended to eradicate poverty and under-nutrition and strengthen the foundations for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso, West Nile and Karamoja, and as such promote sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.
“And it will provide support in the three focal sectors identified in the National Indicative Programme (Food Security and Agriculture; Transport Infrastructure and Good Governance),” said Ms Guwatudde.
She revealed that DINU will be executed under the supervision of the OPM; the Programme Management Unit (PMU) will operate as the technical and management support unit to OPM with Liaison office in OPM premises in Kampala and two Programme offices in Gulu and Moroto.
She said the project implemented by UNCDF will see an improvement in access to finance for SMEs engaged in agricultural value addition through a dedicated facility for business development services and blended finance.
While presiding over the launch 4 May at OM offices in Kampala, the Prime Minister Mr Ruhakana Rugunda described the programme as an affirmative action for northern Uganda by the government to enable it rise to levels of other parts of the country.
“The latest figures from UBOS data for 2016 indicate that 32.5% of the people in the north are living under poverty and this has worsened with the influx of refugees. Yet the statistics also show that more than 37% of the children in Karamoja have stunted growth, the launch of this programme today is a commitment by government to have this region uplifted to the level of other parts of the country,” said Mr Rugunda.
Dr Rugunda said the project is designed to support the government of Uganda in achieving national targets for SDG 1 “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” and SDG 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”.
“And I am calling upon all of you to give it support in order for it to achieve its set objectives and this project design and approach is aligned with the Second National Development Plan (NDPII), 2015/16 – 2019/20,” said Dr Rugunda while addressing the LCV chairpersons, RDCs, CAOs, OPM ministry technical staff and the European union team.
The European Union ambassador to Uganda Mr. Attilio Pacifici said the project is aligned with two Strategic Intents of the Uganda UN Development Assistance Framework’s (UNDAF): Strategic Intent # 1 Governance and Strategic Intent # 3 Sustainable & Inclusive Economic Development”.
Mr Pacifici said the general objective is to consolidate stability in Northern Uganda, poverty and under?nutrition and strengthen the foundations for sustainable and inclusive socio?economic development.
He revealed that the proposed project provides an implementation vehicle for a number of activities of the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), the EU flagship programme in Uganda that is part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).
“This is a new project and requires commitment from all stake holders to deliver,” said Mr Pacifici.
He revealed the partners in the project fundind as European Union, Uganda government, Department for international development-Government of UK [DFID], United Nations Capital Development Fund [UNCDF], United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] and the Federal Republic of Germany
About the NIDU
The Government of Uganda has received a grant from the 11th European Development Funds towards the Development Initiative of Northern Uganda (DINU).
The Programme is intended to eradicate poverty and under-nutrition and strengthen the foundations for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso, West Nile and Karamoja, and as such promote sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development. It will provide support in the three focal sectors identified in the National Indicative Programme (Food Security and Agriculture; Transport Infrastructure and Good Governance)
