On Thursday, 19th August 2021, the Government of the Republic of Italy represented by H. E. Massimiliano Mazzanti, Ambassador of Italy to Uganda, and the Government of the Republic of Uganda represented by Honorable Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development, signed the Financing Agreement for the Soft Loan to implement the Karamoja Infrastructure Development Project II (KIDP II) at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
The project will be financed by a soft-loan of 10 million Euros from the Republic of Italy and co-financed by the Government of Uganda co-financing with 9.960.000.000 UGX. Italy through Government budgetary support, Private Not-For Profits (PNFPs), Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society has supported the health sector in Uganda for the last 40 years, in the provision of essential medicine and health supplies, health infrastructure development, human resource development, and community health initiatives.
The aim of this project – that is fully in line with priorities set on Karamoja by H.E. the President of Uganda – is to address the infrastructure gaps that have been observed in implementation of the staff-housing project (phase I), so as to further strengthen the health system in Karamoja Region for Universal Health Coverage.
This will be done through: the construction of 75 additional staff-houses (to supplement the 68 that have been already built and financed by an Italian Grant of 4.2 million Euros, under “Italian Support to the Ugandan Health Sector Strategic Plan and the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda”); construction and equipping of new Health Centres IIIs in the sub-counties that are not yet covered; finally, the upgrade of the already existing HCs II to III and III to IV.
The ceremony was graced by the Honorable Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, who delivered the vote of thanks, and Honorable Agnes Nandutu, State Minister for Karamoja Affairs. The signing was witnessed by the Ambassador of the European Union to Uganda, H. E. Attilio Pacifici.
