UN is Uganda's trusted partner, says Museveni

UGANDA|UN|MUSEVENI|HEALTH

KAMPALA - The United Nations (UN) has done a commendable job supporting Uganda's push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, President Museveni has said.

The President made the remarks yesterday, as he launched the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2021-2025 at State House, Entebbe.

"I want to appreciate the great collaboration established over the years with the United Nations in Uganda, supporting efforts in governance systems, effective economic management, environmental sustainability and integrated and effective partnerships," the President said at a function conducted virtually.

The new framework aims at supporting Uganda reframe economic policies and practices for sustainable, inclusive, diversified and job intensive development.

It also seeks to promote access to and utilisation of basic social and protection services that advance human rights, gender equality and well-being of the people in Uganda.

The UN has over the years, said President Museveni, partnered with Uganda to address humanitarian needs in refugee-hosting districts, as well as in response to mudslides, floods and locusts.

"The UN has been a partner in strengthening health responses, including the fight against Ebola, malaria, Marburg and now COVID-19," Museveni added, according to a statement issued from StateHouse, Wednesday.

Museveni commended the United Nations and the leadership of the UN resident coordinator, Rosa Malango, in ensuring that the UN Development System Reform translates into concrete results to achieve the 2030 Agenda and to enable stronger collaboration and integrated partnerships.

The framework, the President said, comes at the opportune time to contribute to National Vision 2040 and the Third National Development Plan 2020/21-2024/25.

He added that the programme should further deepen the focus on youth employment, entrepreneurship and education programmes,including access to reproductive health information and services.

The President said the process has come at a bad time when COVID-19 has brought widespread economic, social and human impact.

"In Uganda, we took early actions in containing the outbreak and flattening the curve of the pandemic. This pandemic has become a test of resilience to many countries and societies," he said.

Museveni added: "I express appreciation to the United Nations for its critical interventions offered and for the unwavering dedication and support to the Government and the people of Uganda in these unprecedented times."

Museveni explained the 10 bottlenecks Africa is facing and how Uganda and the United Nations can work together to address them.

"In Mbale, we discussed how the UN system in Uganda can contribute to resolving the strategic bottlenecks that still impede Africa's transformation, which is the purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," he said.

"I requested the leadership of the UN system in Uganda to pay attention to some key issues, including the needs of youth and women, the role of new technologies in the economy, as well as the need for society to evolve while preserving positive core values," President Museveni said.

He said the UN remains Uganda's trusted and important partner to deliver on the aspirations of the national and regional commitments to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda saluted the United Nations, the Government and the private sector for successfully launching the framework.

Malango said the signing of the co-operation framework will be followed by the formulation of joint work plans and country programme documents by various agencies with government and other stakeholders, to ensure close alignment to the NDPIII and other national strategies.