Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

What is Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)?

Also known as the Global Goals, they were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a global call for action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people live in peace and prosperity by 2030.

The 17 SDGs are integrated as they recognize that actions in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Committed countries would need to prioritize progress for those who lag behind. The SDGs are designed to end poverty, stigma on AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.

Creativity, knowledge, technology, and the financial resources of society as a whole are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in all contexts.

(United Nations Uganda, 2020)

Uganda's Performance Review

As of 2019, Uganda has been ranked 140 out of 162 participating countries with a global index score of 52.6 per cent – declining from 125th position out of 156 Countries in 2018.

According to the SDG Global Index, Uganda’s achievement is average, with moderate performance on SDGs 3, 8, 9, 13, and 15. SDGs 2, 5 and 6 have stagnated and the country is off-track in achieving SDGs 1, 11, and 16.

(United Nations Uganda, 2020)

Nevertheless, Uganda does deserve a standing ovation for all the hard works its people have done to get the country aligned with the 17 SDGs. One amazing initiative is called The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme Uganda (MECPU).

Aligned with the 4th SDG (Quality Education), this initiative heavily focuses on improving better education to Ugandan children, while at the same time, educating over 20,000 parents on the importance of holistic childhood development, nurturing care, and healthy child-rearing practices. This is indeed an amazing initiative, given that Uganda is known to be the country with the second highest number of children under the age of 18.

(Office of the Prime Minister, 2020)

Uganda also has taken another step forward towards achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) with the revival of its flag carrier airlines called the Uganda Airlines.

Relaunched in 2018, the airlines is currently equipped with six new jets, two of which will be the wide-body, long-range A330-800 and the other four being CRJ900 aircraft. This is also concurrent with the construction of brand new Kabaale International Airport, which is expected to be completed in 2021 (Office of the Prime Minister, 2020). This is a great sign that Uganda is on the right path to achieve the 9th SDG.

Do check out our suggestions on how Uganda can achieve more Sustainable Development Goals by clicking on the buttons below.