Uganda Breaks Ground on First Climate-Resilient, Gender-Responsive Cross-Border Market at Elegu

The government has launched the construction of its first climate-resilient and gender-responsive cross-border market at Elegu Town Council, a key trade gateway between Uganda and South Sudan.

The UGX 41 billion project, implemented by TradeMark Africa with funding from DANIDA and the European Union, was officially flagged off on Wednesday by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. It is designed to mitigate the recurrent flooding that has long plagued traders at the makeshift Elegu Market, while also empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and boosting commerce along the Elegu–Nimule trade corridor.

Kadaga said the facility’s design addresses the annual floods caused by the bursting of the Unyama River, which have left market vendors counting heavy losses. “This market will not only withstand the climate challenges we face but will also open up new opportunities for traders from Uganda and across our borders,” she stated.

The market is expected to facilitate trade beyond Uganda and South Sudan, enabling cross-border vendors to access a modern, safe, and inclusive space. Passengers transiting through Elegu will also be able to purchase goods with ease, adding to the vibrancy of the corridor.

In a message read by Kadaga, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure, eliminating trade bottlenecks, and positioning Uganda as a leader in regional integration and socio-economic resilience.

“Let us build a market that stands not just as concrete and steel, but as a symbol of transformation, a place where trade thrives, where women and persons with disabilities find space and voice, and where communities learn to support each other,” Nabbanja’s message read.

She urged future users of the market to take ownership of the facility and use it to transform their livelihoods. Nabbanja expressed optimism that once operational, the market could push border trade volumes up by more than 30 per cent.

The Elegu project marks a major step in Uganda’s drive to modernise border trade infrastructure while adapting to climate change and promoting inclusive economic growth.

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