Norwegian Ambassador Anne Kristin Hermansen assured Uganda that the closure of the Norwegian embassy in Uganda next year will not impact the financial support provided by Norway to the country. Ambassador Hermansen made this commitment during a courtesy call at the gender ministry headquarters in Kampala on Monday, where the collaborative efforts between the two nations in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment were celebrated.
The closure of the Norwegian embassy is part of a larger restructuring of Norway’s foreign service, as Ambassador Hermansen explained. She further elaborated that the management of development cooperation would continue under the guidance of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
During the meeting, Gender Ministry Permanent Secretary Aggrey David Kibenge extended a warm welcome to the Norwegian embassy delegation and emphasized the significance of the ongoing collaboration between the governments of Uganda and Norway. He highlighted the positive impact of this cooperation on the lives of women and girls in Uganda.
Kibenge listed some of the projects supported by the Norwegian government through various organizations, including UN Women and the Joint Global Trust Fund. Notable achievements were noted through collaborative efforts, such as the Joint Programme on ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through the Joint Global Trust Fund. These initiatives contributed to a reduction in the prevalence of FGM in Uganda.
Uganda’s collaboration with Norway through UN Women for Women, Peace, and Security resulted in the development and implementation of Uganda’s National Action Plan III (NAPIII) on the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, benefiting 12 districts.
Additionally, the Gender Equality for Development (GEfD) program, a government-to-government cooperation initiative between Norway and Uganda, has played a pivotal role in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Angela Nakafeero, Commissioner for Gender and Women Affairs, announced that this productive collaboration would lead to a 10-member Ugandan delegation visiting Norway in the coming year. The purpose of this visit is to explore early childhood care and development practices, further strengthening the partnership between the two countries.
