ARUA CITY HOSTS GERMAN DELEGATION, SEEKS SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES

Arua City officials posed for a group photo with the German delegation in front of the city mayor’s office after their one-hour engagement at the Arua City Hall (All photos by Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

Arua City Council hosted a high-level delegation from Germany, including representatives from BMZ, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and German Ambassador to Uganda, KfW, and GIZ, to discuss development cooperation and ongoing investments.

The delegation engaged with city political and technical leaders and toured key infrastructure projects under the KfW-supported Climate Resilient Project in Arua City.

His Worship Lawrence Alionzi, the Arua City mayor, outlined priority needs such as improved water supply, modern waste management facilities, better roads, youth skills development, job creation, an industrial park, urban planning, and inclusive service delivery for both host communities and refugees.

“Arua City has 79% school dropout rates in primary alone meaning out of 100 pupils who enroll for primary one only 21% are able to complete primary seven, we have this huge population who are not educated, unskilled and therefore the city council must do everything possible with the important development partners like we have today to skill this population together” he said.

Rt Maj Betty Akello Otekat, Arua City Resident City Commissioner, emphasized the importance of continued support to strengthen Arua City’s commercial potential as a regional trade hub serving West Nile, neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

“Arua City sits strategically crossroads of international trade and regional integration, by empowering Arua City your support unlocks the vast economic potential of the entire West Nile region and stimulus cross-border by generating economic wealth and builds long-term resilience for millions of our people” she said.

Arua City officials and the German delegation during their one-hour engagement at the Arua City Council Hall before touring the ongoing investments in the city.

Joachim Schumacher, a member of the Management Board at DEG — a major subsidiary of the KfW Group and leader of the delegation team alongside German Ambassador to Uganda Sigrid Sommer — commended Arua City leadership for implementing the ongoing investments, acknowledged the challenges raised by city leaders, and pledged support to address them.

“We are very happy to support that strategy and assist you to transition from humanitarian assistance and going to development cooperation to unlock the economic potential of the people of Arua City as host of urban refugees” he said.

Arua City Mayor His Worship Alionzi Lawrence presenting to the German delegation during their one-hour engagement at the city council hall.

Arua City leaders appreciates the Government of Germany, KfW, the European Union, and implementing partners for the approximately UGX 90 billion KfW project expected to transform water supply, sanitation, waste management, and urban infrastructure.

The city leadership reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships to achieve sustainable development and improve residents’ livelihoods.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis