Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at Town Hall Meeting on COVID-19 Situation

I would like to welcome all UN staff to the townhall meeting and express my deep appreciation for your continued dedication and commitment to ensure UN Uganda efforts to deliver services in support of lifesaving, development and peace needs in the country. I would like to particularly appreciate all staff at the frontlines including those working in support COVID-19, refugees, food security, eliminating violence against women and children as well as our work around governance, youth employment and financing SDGs. I also wish to thank all the staff in operations and security who are critical enablers.

The objectives of the UN Staff Townhall Meeting are as follows:

• • Update UN staff of the situation of COVID-19 in the country and the risks it is continuing to pose to UN staff and operations in the country;
  • Update UN staff with the situation of rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations in Uganda including the national vaccination programme as well as access of UN staff and dependents to it;
  • Update staff with the recently updated staff advisory; and
  • Discuss with staff on measures to protect staff/dependent from COVID-19 as a pathway for safe return to offices and safe UN presence on the ground.

As of 1st January 2021, the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021 - 2025 cycle started. The UN is committed to continue delivery of critical programmes under the UNSDCF. Once year since the start of the pandemic, the people of Uganda, children, youth, women, men, elderly people, people with disabilities, people who lost their livelihood, students who have not seen their classrooms for a full school year, need us more than ever. The UN needs to place the people of Uganda first.

The country is in a fragile post-electoral period, I wish to reiterate the importance of remaining as impartial stakeholders to whom all parties can reach out to for solutions. Please do not engage with the media without express guidance and authorisation from your Heads of Agencies. Statements will continue to be issued primarily by the Spokesperson of the UNSG and the Human Rights High Commissioner. In case of sudden events, press release from my Office is issued after consultation with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG).

I would like to remind you of the critical programmes we delivered throughout 2020. Since the launch of the UN Emergency Appeal on COVID-19 response and its impacts in Uganda in April 2020, UN mobilized an additional $50 million to sustain critical programmes across the country including for women and youth in the informal sector, refugees, particularly women and children, victims of gender-based violence, and people with emergency nutrition and health needs. UN Socioeconomic Impact analysis of COVID-19 revealed an increase in those affected by violence or the loss of livelihoods, and the UN  is developing new partnerships to address those most at risk of being left behind including the Youth SDG Coalition which you met recently, Rwenzori local government and Stanbic Uganda. Stanbic Bank Uganda and the UN in Uganda last year established an Economic Enterprise Restart Fund (EERF).

The UN Secretary-General emphasized the importance of ensuing fair and equitable access to vaccines across the world. Colleagues of UN County Team are currently focusing their utmost efforts in working with the government, COVAX and respective headquarters colleagues to ensure the delivery of vaccines to Uganda. This is critical for the UN to return and stay safe and deliver the programme that people of Uganda need.

I look forward to the presentations from colleagues as well as fruitful discussions today on this important agenda.