The annual Government of Uganda and United Nations Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting to assess progress on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 was held on 15 April 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.The meeting was jointly chaired by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja and UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Leonard Zulu. The JSC meeting provides Strategic Direction and Political Leadership; Oversight, Inclusive Dialogue and Accountability; and Coordination, Joint Resource Mobilization and Financing.This year’s JSC meeting was embedded within the three-day National Performance Review Conference which enabled a wide range of stakeholders to participate including central and local government leaders including  cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, all district leaders comprising Resident District commissioners (RDCs), Chairs of District Local Governments and Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs); Heads of UN Agencies; and representatives from development partners, civil society, youth and academia.In her opening remarks, Prime Minister Rt Hon. Nabbanja, emphasized the importance of leadership in driving results. “Leadership means using limited resources more efficiently to deliver real, measurable impact for our people. We must translate our commitments into tangible outcomes—improving service delivery, creating opportunities, and ensuring no one is left behind,” she said. In his remarks, Mr. Zulu reinforced the importance of adapting to a changing financing environment. “Uganda must move from being a spending state to being a financing state, with government leadership, strategic partnerships, and innovative financing at the centre of development,” he said.He noted that Uganda is now a lower-middle-income country, navigating a shifting global landscape where aid is tightening and expectations are rising. In this context, the United Nations continues to support evidence-based prioritization, strengthen inclusive dialogue, and ensure that the most vulnerable are reached first.The highlights of the Uganda UN Country Results Report 2025 in support of the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) were presented by members of the UN Country Team as follows: Priority 1 -Transformative and Inclusive Governance presented by UN Women Representative, Ms. Paulina Chiwangu; Priority 2 - Shared Prosperity in A Healthy  Environment presented by IOM Chief of Mission, Mr. Sanusi Savage; Priority 3 presented by UNFPA Representative, Ms. Kristine Blokhus; Cross-Cutting - Gender Equality, Human Rights and Leaving No One Behind in Action presented by UNAIDS Country Director, Ms. Jacqueline Makokha; and Lessons from 2025 presented by UNICEF Representative Dr. Robin Nandy.The report highlighted that Uganda continues to deliver tangible development results across sectors, even as global development assistance declines. It underscored a shift toward stronger national ownership, more strategic partnerships, and a growing emphasis on financing sustainable development from within.At the same time, Uganda’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals reflects both achievement and complexity. While some goals are on track, others face moderate or significant challenges, and a few remain far from reach. This uneven progress underscores the need for more targeted and sustained efforts to ensure that development advances inclusively and reaches all Ugandans. Key Achievements:Pillar 1: Transformative and Inclusive GovernanceAcross Uganda, systems are becoming more responsive and accessible. Nearly 50 institutions at national and sub-national levels have been strengthened in planning, budgeting, justice performance management, and data systems. These improvements are translating into real outcomes, over 7,500 individuals have received legal support, while outreach initiatives have reached more than 33,000 inmates, helping reduce case backlogs and improve access to justice. Innovations such as video conferencing and court open days are increasing transparency and efficiency. At the same time, strengthened national statistical systems are improving how decisions are made, ensuring they are grounded in reliable data. Beyond institutions, communities are also seeing change. More than 14,000 young people have been supported to prevent violent extremism and build leadership skills, while cross-border programming in regions such as Karamoja is addressing conflict at its roots. Through peace and security communications reaching over 5 million people, trust in public systems is steadily growing.Pillar 2: Shared Prosperity and Economic TransformationEconomic opportunities are expanding, particularly for young people and small-scale producers. Over 53,000 youth transitioned into employment through coordinated skills and enterprise initiatives.Smallholder farmers generated nearly US$ 5.9 million, supported by improved market access and stronger value chains.Access to finance is also improving. Nearly 100 small and medium enterprises secured loans totaling US$ 4.69 million, many for the first time, enabling them to grow and create jobs.Clean energy initiatives are gaining momentum, with over 800,000 products distributed, generating thousands of green jobs while reducing environmental pressure. At the same time, climate resilience is being strengthened. Grants and early action programmes are helping districts and households prepare for shocks before they occur, protecting livelihoods and reducing vulnerability.Livelihood programmes are also supporting both refugees and host communities, fostering inclusion and shared economic growth.Pillar 3: Human Wellbeing and ResilienceProgress in human development is reaching millions. Over 13 million people accessed improved health, education, nutrition, protection, and water services in 2025. Investments in family planning have ensured widespread availability of essential commodities, while nutrition programmes have treated tens of thousands of children facing severe acute malnutrition. Access to safe water continues to improve, with 80% of villages now served by at least one reliable water source. Efforts are ongoing to close the remaining gap and ensure universal access.Across these interventions, the focus is increasingly on resilience, building systems and communities that can withstand shocks while maintaining progress. Gender equality and human rights remain central throughout. More than 64,000 survivors of gender-based violence received support services, while judicial processes have improved efficiency in handling such cases. At the same time, refugees and persons with disabilities are being more fully integrated into national systems, ensuring that development planning reflects the realities of all populations.Challenges:Despite clear progress, significant challenges remain. Youth unemployment continues to place pressure on the economy, while Uganda’s role as a major refugee-hosting country requires sustained resources and coordination. Global supply chain disruptions are affecting economic stability, and climate vulnerability continues to threaten livelihoods, particularly in already fragile regions. These challenges are interconnected, reinforcing the need for approaches that are both systemic and adaptive. Way Forward:The Joint Steering Committee reaffirmed the Cooperation Framework as the central platform for Government–United Nations partnership in support of The Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), SDG acceleration, and Uganda’s ambitions to graduate to upper middle-income status.Recognizing the UN’s complementary and catalytic role, the Committee emphasized its contribution through technical expertise, convening power, and system-level solutions to accelerate national priorities.Key priorities for 2026 include:Consolidation over expansion: Focusing on quality, efficiency, and system-level impactStrengthening national systems: Advancing policy implementation and reinforcing UN coherence in line with UN@80 reformsExpanding partnerships: Deepening collaboration across Government, development partners, international financial institutions (IFIs), civil society, and the private sectorSouth–South cooperation: Promoting peer learning and practical solutionsInclusive development: Ensuring women, youth, refugees, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups are fully integratedSustainable financing: Transitioning to predictable, programmatic, and blended financing aligned with national prioritiesDomestic resource mobilization: Strengthening financing for development and private sector engagementCoordinated financing strategy: Supporting Uganda’s shift from a spending state to a financing stateIn her closing remarks, Prime Minister Rt Hon. Nabbanja noted,“one message has come out clearly from our discussions today: working together, and not in silos, is the only way we will achieve the transformation we seek. Our future success depends on sustained collaboration, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to implementation…Together, through joint effort and shared resolve, we can accelerate progress and take Uganda to the next level.”

With just four years left to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the mood at the National Workshop on SDG-Aligned Local Planning and Multi-Level Governance in Entebbe (24-26 March 2026) was both reflective and urgent.Uganda’s story is, in many ways, one of promise. The country has built one of Africa’s most advanced frameworks for SDG localization-aligning national and district plans to the global goals, investing in data systems, and taking a leadership role on sustainable development across the region.Yet the reality is sobering: only 26.1% of SDG targets are currently on track.This gap set the tone for the workshop, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the SDG Secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda. Government leaders, development partners, civil society, and academia came together not to question Uganda’s commitment, but to focus on one pressing issue-how to accelerate delivery and ensure progress reaches communities faster. Over the three days, discussions moved beyond celebrating milestones such as SDG-aligned budgeting, Voluntary Local Reviews, and Uganda’s leadership in regional forums. Instead, participants confronted a harder truth: national progress is not translating quickly enough into real change on the ground.At the centre of this challenge are local governments. Districts, municipalities, and parishes are where development is either delivered or delayed. They build classrooms, health facilities and ensure water reaches communities.Despite their critical role, many local governments face persistent constraints: limited capacity, financing gaps, weak data systems and slow implementation. In some cases, SDGs are not fully integrated into local plans and budgets, making it harder to turn national ambition into tangible results.“This reality calls for deliberate, coordinated, and accelerated action, especially at the sub-national level where development is ultimately delivered and experienced,” said Dr. Albert Byamugisha, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime MinisterThroughout the workshop, one message was clear: Uganda has strong policies, but delivery at the local level must catch up. “Uganda provides a global success story on SDG integration. The real challenge-and opportunity-lies in strengthening the link between national priorities and what happens at the local level,” said Mr. Leonard Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda.Local governments are responsible for turning plans into action. They deliver services, manage resources, and respond directly to community needs. Strengthening their capacity is therefore essential.Uganda has already taken steps to improve accountability. The local government performance assessment system, in place for nearly a decade, tracks results consistently. Many indicators align with SDG targets, ensuring district-level progress contributes to national and global commitments.“It is no longer enough to report progress on paper. We must verify what is happening on the ground,” said Mr. Gonzaga Mayanja, Commissioner for Monitoring and Evaluation, Office of the Prime Minister.A key takeaway from the workshop was the importance of localization, not just as a principle, but as a practical approach to delivery. This means strengthening district planning, aligning budgets with priorities, improving the use of data and ensuring communities are actively involved in shaping development.As Uganda prepares to launch its new SDG Roadmap (2025/26–2029/30) in April, the focus is shifting. The priority now is clear: strengthen coordination across all levels of government and empower local actors to lead implementation because lasting progress will only be achieved where it matters most, in communities.

The Start, Awareness, Support, and Action (SASA!) Together Approach is being used by the Spotlight Initiative to  support communities to prevent violence against women and girls and reduce HIV risk by addressing power imbalances between men and women. Through SASA! communities critically reflect on how power is used in relationships, families, and society. Instead of blaming individuals, it encourages positive use of power - promoting respect, equality, and non-violence.Acknowledging the ProblemBefore joining the SASA! Together sessions, 56-year-old Valentino Muhindo had increasingly turned to alcohol, a habit that was gradually destroying his family and draining his finances in his hilly village of Kibisire, Kitabu–Kyarumba Sub-County, Kasese District, Western Uganda. “We had become strangers in our own home,” he admitted, “I didn’t care whether there was food left or not. To me, I thought I was just being ‘man enough’.” He described immense tension and conflict in the home. During the first SASA! learning sessions, Valentino was introduced to concepts on preventing violence against women and girls, family collaboration, practicing shared decision-making, and using power positively in relationships. “When I returned home after the training, I told my wife, ‘It felt as though the trainers understood exactly what was happening in our home.’ At the beginning of the sessions, I felt uninterested. But as I listened to the messages, I began reflecting on the harm I was causing in my own household because of my perceived ‘power’ as a man.” Taking Action Through the SASA! Together Approach Encouraged by what he had learned, dynamics around household finances shifted. Valentino and his wife, Jane, set aside 100,000 Ugandan shillings (approximately $28) for Jane to start a coffee trading business. Although initially skeptical about her husband’s change in behavior, Jane began making profits from the business, which also helped cover school requirements for their eight children.The family also embarked on a brick-making project to construct their dream home. “We are now in the first phase of our brick-making project, where we expect to produce 20,000 bricks. We will sell these bricks to buy building materials such as cement, iron sheets, and timber,” Valentino says with a smile. He hopes to start building their house after selling the second batch of bricks.Building Partnerships, Inspiring ChangeAlongside these more peaceful and equal dynamics at home, the couple has seen their children develop and grow, one has qualified as a health worker, another is an electrician, and one is an agriculturalist. “We are now supporting each other as a family more than ever. My other five children are also progressing well in school,” he adds. The family has planted coffee and cocoa on their three acres of land, which they hope will boost their income and improve their livelihoods in the near future. Because of his positive behaviors, Valentino now serves as the Local Council 1 Chairman of his village, Kibisire. “My community members entrusted me with this leadership role because they saw me as a changed family man,” Valentino shared. Through the learning sessions, he gained skills that enabling him to transform his community. They are shifting away from alcohol and harmful behaviours, to being responsible family men. Today, he continues to support his community members through counseling and guidance on family matters.The Spotlight Initiative is a major multi-year programme by the European Union, Embassy of the Netherlands  and United Nations, dedicated to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), including harmful practices like child marriage and FGM, and strengthening survivors’ access to services. In Uganda, it’s implemented through a strong partnership among seven UN agencies—including UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and UNHCR—alongside the Government and civil society.  

When a sudden flash flood in Northern Uganda’s Lamwo District submerged the road, 28-year-old midwife Alice found her ambulance and life-saving medical supplies stranded on the wrong side of the raging water, cut off from a refugee mother of six who had just gone into premature labor with twins.Acting on pure instinct, Alice grabbed a waterproof plastic sheet from a UNFPA dignity kit, hurled it across the water to shield the vulnerable newborn from the torrential rain, and waded across the receding waters to manually resuscitate the hemorrhaging mother, saving both her and her surviving baby.Alice’s story is extraordinary, but the precipice on which that mother’s life hung is becoming alarmingly common. Uganda is globally recognized as the gold standard for refugee hosting, offering progressive policies that grant land, movement, and integration to nearly 2 million refugees. But behind the global praise for Uganda’s open-door policy, the reality is brutal: international funding is evaporating, and the basic medical infrastructure that allows frontline workers like Alice to keep women alive is collapsing. The surge in vulnerabilityAcross Uganda’s refugee settlements, an estimated 60 per cent of health care providers have been laid off because the money has simply run out. UNFPA recently identified a critical need for 267 midwives to support emergency response teams; today, because of a persistent cash shortfall, only 23 per cent of those midwives are in place. Those who remain are routinely forced to manage caseloads of over 100 patients a day, double the accepted medical standard.The effects of these cuts are immediate and fatal. Fuel and salary shortages have grounded mobile midwifery teams in major settlements like Bidibidi and Rhino Camp. When care is restricted to stationary clinics, a woman in a remote zone who cannot afford transport has no choice but to give birth at home. This drastically increases her risk of postpartum hemorrhage, which is already the leading cause of maternal death in these settings.The crisis extends far beyond the delivery room. Across the settlements, clinics are operating with a 30 per cent shortage of basic supplies, missing everything from the dignity kits Alice used, to contraceptives and oxytocin.Meanwhile, a 68 per cent reduction in funding to protect women from gender-based violence (GBV) has forced vital safe spaces to shut their doors. Consequently, we are tracking a 32 per cent rise in cases where survivors are left entirely without clinical care or psychological support.Furthermore, as school fee subsidies dry up and dedicated youth spaces close, teenage pregnancies are spiking. Girls as young as 13 are entering maternity wards instead of classrooms, pushed into early marriage or transactional sex just to survive the sudden loss of basic food and cash assistance. The Humanitarian Reset The international community knows the global aid system is financially strained. In response, a Humanitarian Reset is underway to reorganize how aid is delivered, aiming to make emergency responses more efficient and localized. UNFPA supports making aid more effective. We know the system must adapt to do more with less.However, as we reorganize how we deliver aid, we must sound a clear warning: efficiency cannot come at the cost of women’s lives.Reforms must not inadvertently create a two-tier humanitarian system where food, water, and shelter are deemed ‘essential,’ while reproductive health and protection from gender-based violence are sidelined as secondary or "optional" extras. A safe delivery kit, a contraceptive, or the skilled hands of a midwife are not luxuries. As Alice’s story proves, they keep women alive.As global pushback against reproductive rights grows right alongside tightening aid budgets, we are working closely with our partners to ensure the protection and medical care of women and girls remain central to all humanitarian action, rather than an afterthought.Uganda’s progressive refugee model cannot survive on the goodwill of the host government and the sheer grit of its frontline workers alone. It requires actual cash and sustained funding from the international community.We cannot balance the books of the global humanitarian system on the backs of women and girls. Their bodies and futures must not be the shock absorbers for global aid cuts. If we allow maternal and protection services to be stripped away in the name of efficiency, we are abandoning the very people the humanitarian system was built to protect.