A handover ceremony was held this morning for a market built near the Magburu refugee camp in Uganda, as part of an emergency initiative financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Africa Mission - Cooperation and Development Onlus.
The event was attended by local authorities, including the parliamentary representative, Emmanuel Okware, AICS representatives, as well as civil society and partners. Uganda currently hosts almost 2 million refugees from neighbouring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose inhabitants have been forced to flee due to recent conflicts and tensions.
Although Uganda's reception system is recognised as one of the most inclusive in the world, tensions remain between refugee and host communities related to the use of available natural resources. The scarcity of firewood and water resources is a source of conflict between refugees and the local population in villages near the camps.
For this reason, measures are needed to promote cohesion between the resident populations. The construction of the market, which began in February, is a concrete example of this integrative approach. Located near the Magburu refugee camp, the market will be used by both refugees and the Ugandan resident population. The facility also includes an area for the collection and recycling of waste and latrines, which benefit some 2,000 people.
"This market represents a tangible sign of our commitment to support integration between refugees and host communities, improving living conditions for all. The collaboration between AICS and Africa Mission - Cooperation and Development Onlus shows that together we can create opportunities and promote social cohesion," said the owner of the AICS office in Nairobi, Giovanni Grandi.
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