February 8, 2022 (Entebbe, Uganda): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today inaugurated the Validation of National Baseline Report on the Contribution of Blue Economy to the Development of the Republic of Uganda
The two-day workshop will address economic, social and environmental development issues through a sustainable Blue Economy approach and intended to helping reduce poverty, improve livelihoods and ensure transformative sustainable socio-economic development.
Extensive discussions and review of the draft report will be conducted to get contributions from different stakeholders of Blue Economy sectors. The updated report will serve as a resource document in the development of National Blue Economy Strategy of Uganda.
Delegates from various ministries and institutions involved in the Blue Economy (BE) sector in the Republic of Uganda are attending the workshop. These includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Water and Environment (leading Institute on Blue Economy-nationally), Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector, Maritime Tourism Sector, Maritime Transport and Related Services, Shipping, and Shipbuilding, Ministry of Energy/Mines, Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization, Makerere University, IGAD Head of Mission in Uganda and Regional Fisheries and Blue Economy Experts from IGAD Secretariat.
Speaking during the opening session, the IGAD Head of Mission to Uganda, Ms. Lucy Daxbacher stated that “Uganda has huge Blue Economy Resources like great lakes, big rivers and wetlands. To mention one, Lake Victoria is the largest Lake in Africa and it is a multipurpose transboundary lake that provides fisheries, transport, tourism and associated wetland products.”
She added that “The development potential of the Blue Economy Sector in IGAD Region in general and in Uganda in particular includes but not limited to the benefits from tourism and recreational activities; shipping and transportation of goods; commercial and recreational fishing; power generation; research and knowledge generation for development and all related goods and services including the food industry”.
In his official remarks during the opening of the workshop, Mr. Albert Orijabo, Assistant Commissioner Directorate of Water Resource Management (WRM) Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), stressed that “The vision of 2040 and the National Development Plan 3 of the Republic of Uganda aspires to transform the population from peasant to a prosperous society. Water and Environment support almost all aspects of the economy like Agriculture, Tourism, Industry and Health. Blue Economy (BE) promotes sustainable management of Water and Environmental resources”.
The objectives of the meeting are to review the draft baseline report and update the gaps, Validation of baseline reports & the Creation of national BE platform. The workshop outcomes entail identifying and filling gaps in data, validation of the national report to feed into the regional report and drafting of background document for validation of the regional blue economy strategy.
Missed data/information filled
The national Blue Economy (BE) baseline reports of the IGAD Member States were developed with Financial support from the European Union. The national-level validation workshops are supported by the project
“Enhancing Blue Economy in the IGAD Coastal Member States for Biodiversity Conservations and Livelihood Diversification”, funded by the Government of Sweden.