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KAMPALA - The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be included in the education curriculum if Uganda is to beat the 2030 attainment target.

Attainment of SDGs should not be discussed in air-conditioned conference rooms but should be part of a citizen’s journey at an early stage, the executive director of Hummingbird Foundation, Dr Micahel Jemba recommended.

“Let SDGs be part of the structures that bring up our children. It should not be an alien factor you find out of schools. Let Government institutionalize SDGs in schools. I left the medical school without knowing anything about SDGs,” Dr Jemba Said.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed upon by all 193 United Nations (UN) Member States aim to end poverty, ensure prosperity, and protect the planet.

Goal 1 No Poverty, Goal 2 Zero Hunger, Goal 3 Good Health and Well-being, Goal 4 Quality Education, Goal 5 Gender Equality, Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and  Infrastructure, Goal 10 Reduced Inequality, Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 13 Climate Action, Goal 14 Life Below Water, Goal 15 Life on Land, Goal 16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions and Goal 17 Partnerships to achieve the Goal.

Micheal Jjemba, medical practitioner responds to concerns during the 3rd Voluntary National review at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya, Kampala on March 27, 2024.

Jemba’s submission followed a presentation from Pascal Byarugaba from the SDG Secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister at the Civil Society stakeholder’s engagement on the third voluntary review organised by the NGO Forum at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.

Byarugaba’s presentation indicated a stagnation on eight goals and moderate improvement on 6 goals.

There is some stagnation on eight goals (Goal 1 No poverty, 4 Quality Education, Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 10 Reduced Inequality, Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions and Goal 17 Partnerships to achieve the Goal.

Uganda has registered a moderate improvement on six goals. Goal 2 Zero Hunger, 3 Good Health and Well-being, 5 Gender Equality, 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and 13 Climate Action.

The Government reported upward progress on SDG 12 (Sustainable consumption and production) considering less nitrogen in the imported products.

Byarugaba said that the attainment of the SDGs is the sole responsibility of government.
Citing goal 13 on Climate Action, Byarugaba said, “Somebody has not planted a tree and is talking so passionately about environment conservation. You need to ask yourself as a citizen, what is your role in this? Things may look well based on history as Uganda but when we compare ourselves to other countries, we are not doing well and nobody should deceive you on that.”

A cross section of participants during the Third voluntary National review at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya, Kampala on March 27, 2024. (All Photos by Juliet Kasirye)

The rate of poverty reduction remains at a slow pace.

There is progress in the health sector where there is noticeable resilience of the health systems to address and close up the gaps.

The general economy has proved to be resilient to external shocks and this is reflected in the public resources mobilization and revenues, debt management, climate change, closing gender gaps in all aspects, strengthened security system as well as economic empowerment of the citizens.

The localization of the SDGs is the process of taking into account Uganda’s contexts in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. It accounts for domesticating the SDGs into Uganda's development goal settings and targets, with clear means of implementation and measurable indicators.

Linking the LGs in SDGs localization, the LGs support SDGs-related actions from the bottom up and provide a framework for local development planning.