The Ugandan government has launched construction of its first climate-resilient, gender responsive cross border market at Elegu Town Council in Amuru District, a key trade gateway linking Uganda to South Sudan.
The Sh41 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. The new facility is designed to tackle the recurrent flooding that has crippled trade at the makeshift Elegu Market, while empowering women youth and persons with disabilities along the Elegu–Nimule trade corridor.
Kadaga said the market’s design incorporates flood mitigation measures to withstand the annual bursting of River Unyama, which has for years left traders counting heavy losses. Raised 2.5 meters above flood levels and equipped with reinforced drainage, permeable paving, and stormwater basins, the market is expected to remain operational even during flash floods.
“This market will not only connect Uganda and South Sudan but also benefit neighbouring countries. It will be a hub where traders can sell goods freely and where passengers in transit can buy what they need,” Kadaga said.
In a statement read by Kadaga, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged traders to take ownership of the facility once completed, expressing optimism that cross-border trade could increase by more than 30 percent. “Let us build a market that stands not just as concrete and steel, but as a symbol of transformation and a place where women and persons with disabilities find space and voice,” she said.
Danish Ambassador to Uganda, Singe Winding Albjerg, described the project as a lifeline for small-scale traders, especially women impacted by climate change. “If successful, this market could become a model for other cross-border towns in East Africa,” she said.
Sanne Willems, Team Leader at the EU Delegation to Uganda, noted that 80 percent of Elegu’s vendors are women who struggle to access markets in South Sudan, despite the country being one of Uganda’s largest trading partners with about $100 million annually in informal trade.
Amuru Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Osborn Oceng welcomed the market but urged government to address related infrastructure challenges, including the deteriorating Gulu–Nimule highway and poor drainage in Elegu Town Council.
The facility will be constructed over 24 months by Ambitious Construction Company Ltd and will feature solar panels, cyclone ventilation, rainwater harvesting, waste management systems, modern vendor stalls, sanitation facilities, a banking hall, restaurant, daycare centre, loading bays, storage and quality control areas, and ample parking space.
With the project now underway, leaders hope Elegu’s new market will not only strengthen cross-border commerce but also stand as a symbol of Uganda’s commitment to climate adaptation, inclusive trade, and regional integration.