Uganda and Denmark are exploring a Government-to-Government (G2G) partnership aimed at strengthening firefighting, fire prevention and emergency rescue services in Uganda.

Discussions on the proposed cooperation advanced following a technical fact-finding visit by a Ugandan delegation to Denmark, where officials visited Falck Fire Denmark and the Franck Fire Training School in North Zealand.

The visit was facilitated by the Uganda Embassy in Copenhagen under the leadership of Ambassador Margaret M. Otteskov.

During the engagements, the Ugandan delegation examined Denmark’s approaches to firefighting, emergency rescue operations and disaster preparedness. The discussions also covered specialist equipment, professional firefighter training and coordination between institutions responsible for emergency response.

The proposed Uganda-Denmark cooperation could cover several areas of emergency-response development, including fire prevention and risk management, firefighter training and skills development.

Other areas under discussion include emergency command and coordination, acquisition of specialised firefighting equipment, industrial and petroleum fire response, urban fire safety and rescue operations involving high-rise buildings and hazardous materials.

The partnership could also provide opportunities for technology transfer and closer institutional cooperation between Ugandan and Danish organisations.

The discussions come as Uganda continues to expand its petroleum sector alongside industrial, infrastructure and urban development.

These developments are increasing the need for specialised systems and personnel capable of responding to industrial incidents, fires and other emergencies while protecting communities, workers, infrastructure and investors.

Uganda and Denmark have previously discussed cooperation in fire prevention and rescue services, including the possibility of selected investments through a G2G framework.

An indicative investment envelope of between €50 million and €70 million has been discussed. However, the proposed figure remains subject to feasibility studies and decisions on priority areas.

A number of Ugandan government agencies and institutions participated in the technical engagements.

They include the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

The Office of the Inspector General of Police, Public-Private Partnerships Unit, Uganda Investment Authority and Stratus Medical Supplies Ltd also took part in the discussions.

The Uganda Embassy in Copenhagen is expected to continue coordinating with Ugandan and Danish stakeholders as they assess the country's emergency-response needs.

The next phase will focus on identifying priority capacity gaps, technical solutions, training programmes, equipment and infrastructure requirements, financing arrangements and possible pilot projects.

The outcome of these assessments will help determine whether the proposed Uganda-Denmark cooperation can progress into a structured Government-to-Government partnership in firefighting and emergency response.