Uganda has taken a major step toward transforming the Busia border into a vibrant regional commercial powerhouse following the signing of a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenya and UN-Habitat to jointly implement the Sustainable Urban Development of the Greater Busia Metro (GBM) project.
The agreement, signed in Nairobi, marks the official launch of the 2025–2028 programme aimed at modernizing the twin border towns and positioning the Greater Busia area as a key logistical and economic hub for East Africa.
The project places particular emphasis on improving economic resilience and land tenure security for informal traders, especially women and youth who form the backbone of cross-border commerce.
Uganda was represented at the signing ceremony by Ms. Ada Nshemereirwe from the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Alice Wahome, E.G.H., signed on behalf of the Kenyan government, while Mr. Oumar Sylla, UN-Habitat’s Director for the Regional Office for Africa, witnessed the event.
Officials said the project will strengthen cross-border planning, streamline trade infrastructure, and create a more organized and inclusive urban environment in Busia—one of Uganda’s busiest points of entry.
The GBM project is expected to accelerate regional integration, ease movement of goods and services, and unlock new economic opportunities for thousands of small-scale traders who rely on the Busia border for their livelihoods.
