Advancing Uganda’s Transformation Agenda: Key Outcomes from the 2026 National Performance Review Conference

Uganda’s Annual National Performance Review Conference was held from 15th to 17th April 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala on the theme ,“Coordinated Actions for National Socio-Economic Transformation amidst global partnership reforms.” Government, development partners, and the United Nations came together to take stock of progress under the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) and set priorities for NDP IV. 

Discussions consistently highlighted Uganda’s sustained development gains across governance, economic transformation, and human development, even in a context of tightening global financing. At the same time, the conference underscored persistent structural challenges in financing, productivity, innovation, and implementation. A strong consensus emerged around the need to shift from commitments to results, strengthen accountability and national systems, accelerate value addition and industrialization, and deepen inclusive, financing-driven development anchored in strong Government–UN partnership under the Cooperation Framework.

Day One: Fast Tracking Implementation of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development -11 Kampala Declaration

On 15 April 2026, the first day of the conference opened at Speke Resort Munyonyo under the theme “Fast Tracking Implementation of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development -11 Kampala Declaration.” In her opening remarks, Minister of General Duties, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, called for stronger coordination and results-oriented partnerships, noting global financing constraints and UN reforms. She urged a shift from commitments to results, fragmented efforts to coordinated action, and discussions to accountability, focused on measurable improvements in service delivery.

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja reaffirmed government commitment to stronger performance stating “Together we must turn this reflection into solutions that strengthen alignment and deliver transformative, inclusive impact for our people.” 

Speaking on behalf of the Local Development Partners Group (LDPG), the UK High Commissioner, H.E. Lisa Chesney, highlighted declining aid, rising debt, and global uncertainty, calling for stronger partnerships and results-based financing, and welcomed Uganda’s shift from a spending to a financing state. This was further expressed by UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support, Ms. Mama Keita, who warned of widening financing gaps and debt pressures, urging domestic resource mobilisation, regional integration, and climate-smart development.

Embedded within the conference was 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; jointly chaired by chaired by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja and UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Leonard Zulu.

During the JSC meeting the UN Country Team presented the highlights of the Uganda UN Country Results Report 2025. The report underscored that Uganda continues to deliver tangible development results across sectors despite declining global development assistance. 

Mr. Zulu stressed the importance of “Working as one, we must turn Uganda’s progress into inclusive, sustainable results, anchored in national priorities and driven by collective accountability.” 

The report highlighted a clear shift toward stronger national ownership, more strategic partnerships, and a growing focus on financing development from within. At the same time, it noted uneven progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with some targets on track, others lagging, and several still far from reach—reinforcing the need for more targeted and inclusive action.

Across the three thematic pillars of governance, economic transformation, and human wellbeing, progress was evident, from improved justice systems and youth employment to gains in health, water, and social services. However, persistent challenges such as unemployment, climate vulnerability, and financing constraints continue to require coordinated and sustained responses.

Day Two: Assessing National Development Performance to Accelerate Uganda’s Socio-Economic Transformation

Day Two of the conference focused on “Assessing National Development Performance to Accelerate Uganda’s Socio-Economic Transformation” covering progress under the third National Development Plan (NDP III) and early performance trends for NDP IV. The session, led by Minister for General Duties, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, reviewed central government, local government, and non-state actor performance, providing a comprehensive assessment of national development delivery.

Overall, the review highlighted mixed but significant progress across sectors. Uganda exceeded its export value target, reaching US$ 3.46 billion against a target of US$ 2.7 billion, while import reduction targets were also surpassed. Over 180,000 jobs were created. Major gains were recorded in the minerals, oil and gas sectors, with refined gold exports rising sharply to US$ 4 billion, and oil and gas revenues and employment showing strong growth. 

However, performance across sectors remained uneven. Tourism recovered steadily with 1.3 million international arrivals and growth in domestic tourism, but infrastructure gaps, limited connectivity, and skills shortages continued to constrain the sector. Innovation and  Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) performance lagged, with Uganda ranked 124 out of 139 on the Global Innovation Index, reflecting weak research investment and low commercialization of innovation.  Health indicators improved, including reductions in HIV prevalence, malaria rates, and child mortality. Water access and environmental indicators also improved in rural areas, although deforestation, wetland degradation, and urban service gaps remain concerns. Transport and infrastructure development progressed, including airport works and road expansion, but road safety, funding constraints, and maintenance challenges persist.

Local government performance highlighted strong results in service delivery assessments, though institutional gaps, staffing shortages, and system inefficiencies remain barriers. Non-state actors were recognized as critical partners, delivering up to 35 per cent of health services and contributing significantly to education, waster sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and refugee response, despite challenges in coordination and reporting frameworks.

Across all sectors, key constraints included financing gaps, implementation delays, weak enforcement systems, and coordination challenges. The overall message of the day emphasized the need for stronger alignment between planning, financing, and implementation to accelerate results under NDP IV.

Day Three: Accelerating Integrated Development Outcomes through Policy Coherence, Performance Alignment and Localization across the National, Regional and Global Development Agendas

The final day of Uganda’s Annual National Performance Review Conference focused on Africa’s development context, transformation priorities, and accountability for results. UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support, Ms. Mama Keita, highlighted shifting geopolitical dynamics affecting trade and investment, urging deeper regional integration and faster African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation. Emphasis was placed on value addition, competitive regional value chains, resilient infrastructure, and inclusion of women and youth. UNECA also called for stronger domestic resource mobilisation, better debt management, SDG monitoring, and a more unified UN system response.

In remarks delivered on behalf of the President by the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, he noted that Uganda’s development vision was reaffirmed around inclusive growth and transformation. The message emphasized that “Uganda must move from commitments to results, ensuring that our programmes deliver real change at household level, drive value addition and industrialisation, and lift every citizen from subsistence into the money economy, leaving no Ugandan behind.” This message was further reinforced by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Leonard Zulu who stated “As partners, we remain fully committed to supporting the governments efforts at leaving no one behind”.

The day also marked the official launch of key national tools, including the NDP Monitoring and Evaluation Web-Based System; the National Annual Performance Report 2024/25; the Local Government Service Delivery Report 2025; and the SDG Roadmap 2025/26–2029/30—strengthening Uganda’s capacity to track results and improve accountability.

Key Outcomes:

• Strong reaffirmation of Government–UN partnership through the Cooperation Framework as the central platform for NDP IV and SDG delivery
• Clear evidence of Uganda’s sustained development gains across governance, economic transformation, and human development, despite global financing constraints
• Recognition of uneven progress, with structural challenges in financing, productivity, innovation, and implementation across sectors
• Strengthened focus on accountability, results-based governance, and improved national M&E and SDG tracking systems
• Increased emphasis on inclusive development and Africa’s evolving role in the global economy, including value addition, regional integration, and youth participation 

Way Forward:

• Consolidate gains by prioritising efficiency, system strengthening, and structural transformation over expansion
• Accelerate value addition, industrialisation, and productivity under NDP IV and the Agri‑Industrialization, Tourism, Mineral-based industrialization, and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS) Strategy
• Strengthen sustainable financing through domestic resource mobilisation, blended finance, and stronger engagement with IFIs and the private sector
• Deepen regional integration and fast-track AfCFTA implementation to strengthen Africa’s competitiveness in global markets
• Enhance coordination, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making through improved national systems, M&E tools, and stronger central–local government alignment