LocationsModern Community Markets in West Nile and Northern Uganda Advancing Self-Reliance for Host Communities and Refugees
October 10, 2024
Image: Jerusalem Market in Lamwo District (top left), Dongo Market in Obongi District (top right), Ciforo Market in Adjumani District (bottom) featuring solar lighting at night.
Jerusalem Market (Lamwo District) and Ciforo Market (Adjumani District) are officially open for business, adding to the existing Dongo Market (Obongi District), all established through the joint United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Uganda Host and Refugee Community Empowerment Project (UHRCEP) and in partnership with the Government of Uganda.
These markets represent hope, resilience and a path to economic empowerment for refugees and host communities, with each market equipped with stalls, office space, nursing room, rainwater harvesting facilities, drying slab, solar lighting, charging systems, and sanitation amenities, equipped to collectively serve over 500 people each day.
The newly established facilities will enable market vendors to conduct business year-round in a safe and convenient environment, boost local trade and economic activity, nurture social ties, foster community cohesion, and create livelihood opportunities for host communities and refugees. While the communities within the locations of three important community infrastructure celebrate the wide-ranging opportunities that the markets will create, they also celebrated the processes through which these important facilities were constructed. Firstly, refugee and host community members worked alongside the district government to suggest the designs of the markets. Secondly, they were co-opted into local committees that oversaw the construction from beginning-to-end and provided a localised mechanism for channelling community inputs and perspectives into the process. Finally, they will be an integral part of management mechanisms set-up by the district to ensure full, effective and efficient utilisation of the facilities.
Image: UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor and Hon. Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees launch Jerusalem Market alongside representative of the Ministry of Local Government.
Since its inception in 2019, the Uganda Host and Refugee Community Empowerment Project has made significant strides in establishing these three markets in Adjumani, Lamwo and Obongi, 1,873 acres of woodlots, 426 acres of agricultural land, 133km of roads, while providing safe and dignified livelihood opportunities to 10,137 refugees and host communities through cash-for-work activities.
Uganda continues to host the largest number of refugees in Africa, with over 1.7 million refugees and asylum seekers, a consequence of the intricate political, social, and economic challenges prevailing in neighbouring countries. In response to these challenges, UNDP and KOICA among partners continue to implement an integrated Human Development and Peacebuilding (HDP) approach, aiming to enhance the socio-economic empowerment of both refugee and host communities while building capacities for mainstreaming gender equity and preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among key sub-national government agencies, livelihood actors, the private sector, and local communities.
The markets in Adjumani and Lamwo were launched by Hon. Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees; Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor, UNDP Resident Representative, H.E. Park Sung-Soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uganda, Mr. Soongho Cho, KOICA Deputy Country Director, who collectively emphasized the value, opportunity and potentialthat the Markets presents for community level development
The market launch and commissioning events were also attended by key officers from the UHRCEP Project Board, including representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework Secretariat, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Additionally, district and sub-county leadership from Adjumani, Lamwo, Ciforo and Ogili along with community members (women, men, youth and children) were present, and jubilated about the market installation as well as other support under UHRCEP.
Image: Hon. Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.
“I want to really appreciate our partners UNDP and KOICA,” said Hon. Hilary Onek. “We are delighted that you are helping us to drive economic growth here in Lamwo. I want to also thank the community for the active participation in this initiative. This market is mostly here for women, and the men of this community must support them to bring and sell even more produce.”
Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor echoed the sentiments of Hon. Hilary Onek, emphasizing that these markets are likely to create catalytic impact in terms of creating many other opportunities for empowerment and enhanced livelihoods for communities. “This project demonstrates how we have worked collectively to build a space where host communities and refugees can trade with each other,” she said. “It provides refugees with an opportunity to be self-reliant and creates an atmosphere for economic development.”
“As we hand over this market today, let it serve as a reminder of our shared mission and our collective responsibility,” said H.E. Park Sung-Soo. “May it thrive as a beacon of hope and a symbol of our commitment to building a better future for all.”
Image: A market vendor at Dongo Market, Obongi District.
Ms. Vicky Lamunu from Ogili, Lamwo District also attended the launch of Jerusalem Market and described how her participation in the project has created livelihood opportunities that have benefited her family. "I participated in cash-for-work where I was planting trees and paving roads," she said. "I was able to save 400,000 UGX through a savings and loans group which enabled me to invest in goat rearing."
"I also received small grants and business skills training which has enabled me to open a small shop. In the past, my husband would make all the household decisions on how we spend money and plan for the future. Now that I am earning money, I'm much more involved in these decisions."
The newly established markets of Jerusalem, Ciforo and Dongo will not only serve as hubs for local economic development, but create spaces for social interaction to foster community ties and support collective development progress.