EU commits more support for post-war recovery in Acholi sub-region
EU Ambassador Jan Sadek speaking to local leaders on Tuesday morning in Gulu City.
Photo by Tobbias Jolly Owiny
What you need to know:
On Tuesday, the EU Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Jan Sadek, led a delegation of eight other EU member state ambassadors to Gulu City for a three-day working visit aimed at exploring investment and partnership opportunities in northern Uganda
The European Union (EU) has pledged to deepen economic partnerships with the Acholi sub-region as part of efforts to accelerate post-conflict recovery and development.
On Tuesday, the EU Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Jan Sadek, led a delegation of eight other EU member state ambassadors to Gulu City for a three-day working visit aimed at exploring investment and partnership opportunities in northern Uganda.
During separate meetings with local political leaders and the Acholi Paramount Chief, David Onen Acana II, Ambassador Sadek reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to channel more resources into the sub-region to support its socio-economic transformation.
“We remain actively engaged. We currently have a programme called Gender for Development Uganda, which promotes adolescent girls' education and combats gender-based violence. We are investing €140 million into this initiative and supporting civil society organisations in and around Gulu,” Mr Sadek said.
While Uganda’s exports to the EU mostly coffee have increased by nearly 60% to reach €1.25 billion, Mr Sadek noted there is potential for more trade, particularly from northern Uganda.
“It’s important to explore how we can strengthen the partnership between the EU and Uganda in areas such as trade and investment. We’re keen to learn what more we can do to support this region,” he added.
The EU delegation also included ambassadors Simone Knapp (Austria), Hughes Chantry (Belgium), Signe Winding Albjerg (Denmark), Xavier Sticker (France), Mathias Schauer (Germany), Frederieke Quispel (Netherlands), Maria Hakansson (Sweden), and Jill Clements (Deputy Ambassador, Ireland).
Gulu District Chairperson Mr. Christopher Opiyo Ateker appealed to the EU to ensure better prioritisation and accountability for donor funds, citing repeated cases of misallocated resources by implementing agencies.
“Many of the funds are spent on software activities, while actual war victims have been left unsupported,” he said.
Gulu City Mayor Mr. Alfred Okwonga raised concerns over high youth unemployment and lingering psychological trauma among former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war victims, which he said contribute to poverty and underutilisation of the region’s arable land.
“We face a significant youth unemployment crisis that needs strategic attention. Many of our young people are idle, and this is worsening due to the influx of urban refugees from conflict-prone neighbouring countries like South Sudan, the DRC, Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia,” Mr. Okwonga said.
Over the past two decades, the EU has invested billions of euros in the recovery of northern Uganda through initiatives such as the Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Program (2006–2010), the Peace Recovery and Development Program (PRDP), and the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), focusing on peace-building, infrastructure, and service delivery.
Most recently, the EU funded the construction of the Gulu Logistics Hub and the Atyak–Laropi Road, and provided significant support to refugee and host communities in Bidi-Bidi and Kiryandongo settlements.
