Message from the Chief Representative

JICA Uganda started as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) Coordinator Office in 2001 and became full-fledged office in 2006. In line with Uganda's National Development Plan III, we are working on (1) environmental development to achieve economic growth (improvement of transport/transport networks/enhanced electricity supply/enhanced vocational training and education) (2) income enhancement through rural development (promotion of rice/stock production) (3) living environment development (enhanced health services/ rural water supply) and (4) Social stability in the northern region (peace-building and development support in the northern region/support for refugees and host communities).

2021 marked the 20th anniversary of JOCV programme. Since the start of deployment in July 2001, a cumulative total of 800 JOCVs have been deployed. A unique characteristic of JICA is provision of long-lasting cooperation, such as the 50 years cooperation with Nakawa Vocational Training College, rice promotion since 2004, and peace-building and development support in the northern region since 2009.

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Recently, the Nile Bridge construction project, completed in 2018, and the Kampala Flyover and road improvement project, which is currently under construction, and other large-scale infrastructure yen loan projects have attracted much attention. You can check our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages for information on the same.

A milestone worth inking is JICA's recognition by the parliament of Uganda. In December 2021, parliament adopted a first-time resolution commending our international cooperation in the country over the years. It applauded JICA's cooperation as being characterised by "people development, mutual respect, and quality, while 'teaching people how to fish rather than giving them fish' and a cooperation that does not impose conditions."

Several parliamentarians also commended the achievements of JICA projects, which was great motivation to continue ‘leading the world with trust'. The development challenges Uganda is facing are many and varied, and JICA will continue to work closely with the government of Uganda to maintain a good balance of fields, while addressing new methods and challenges in existing priority areas and responding to new needs such as cooperation in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and support for entrepreneurs, among others.

I forward to interacting with many Ugandans and having the opportunity to visit different parts of the country.

February 2023.
INOUE Yoichi
Chief Representative,
JICA Uganda Office