North To Get $100m

THE GOVERNMENT has initiated a US$100m (about sh180b) project to ensure that the north catches up with the rest of the country in the development process, the Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has said.Nsibambi said the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) project aims at improving the quality and access to social services like health, education, water, sanitation and infrastructure.He also said the project aims at supporting vulnerable groups, especially the youth and women affected by the current conflict in the region so that they establish income earning projects.Nsibambi was responding to concerns by Members of Parliament on Thursday regarding government support in Northern Uganda.The premier said sh2.9b has been allocated for the livestock restocking project to cover both northern Uganda and the Luweero Triangle.He said under the US$1.5m Capitation of Vulnerable Youth in Northern Uganda project financed under a Japanese grant, the youth would be trained in various skills and given tools at the end of the training.He said there was also a four million Euros Acholi Programme funded by the European Union to support projects in health, roads, water and education sectors as decided on by the respective district councils of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader.Nsibambi said the Gulu district Council was paid over sh371.3m on July 5, 2002 to start implementing the projects approved by the council.He said on receipt of their work plan this month, Pader district will get about sh212.8m and Kitgum sh221.6m. Northern Uganda has been affected by over a decade of insecurity, which has destroyed infrastructure. The region’s population is currently living in protected camps as the army battles the Joseph Kony Lords’ Resistance Army rebels. Ends