Remarks at Nelson Mandela International Day Commemoration Dinner

Acknowledgements:

• Honourable Mandla Mandela, Member of Parliament of South Africa
• Your Excellency, Lulama Xingwana, High Commissioner of South Africa
• Your Excellencies the Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions
• The Chairperson, Makerere University Council
• The Vice-Chancellor, Makerere University
• All Distinguished Guests

On behalf of the United Nations system, I am delighted to participate in this commemoration of the Nelson Mandela International Day and speak on the significance of the Day from a United Nations perspective. This Day is our special tribute to the former President of South Africa, in recognition of his enduring legacy and untiring fight for the freedom and welfare of humanity. Madiba was the first person to have a day dedicated to honour him by the United Nations General Assembly when it declared 18 July (his birthday) as Nelson Mandela International Day. The commemoration of Mandela’s birthday is “a moment for all to renew with the values that inspired Nelson Mandela. Absolute determination. A deep commitment to justice, human rights and fundamental freedoms. A profound belief in the equality and dignity of every woman and man. A relentless engagement for dialogue and solidarity across all lines and divisions.” Throughout his life — as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa, Nelson Mandela lived out his belief that “Everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better!”

In his message for Nelson Mandela International Day 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres notes that, “Nelson Mandela was a colossus of courage and conviction. A leader of immense achievement and extraordinary humanity. A giant of our times, whose legacy we best honour through action: Action to expel the poison of racism, discrimination and hate; Action to extinguish the legacies of colonialism; And action to promote equality, human rights and above all, justice. Today, poverty, hunger and inequality are on the rise. Countries are drowning in debt. The climate crisis is destroying the lives of those who have done the least to cause it. And our unfair and outdated international financial system is not fulfilling its function as a global safety net. We have it in our power to solve each of these problems. So, as we commemorate Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy, let us be animated by his spirit of humanity, dignity and justice. Let us stand with women and girls, young people and change makers everywhere.  And let us take action to build a better world.”

Nelson Mandela International Day this year comes at a critical juncture. We are overall not moving fast enough towards our development goals. Today poverty, hunger and inequality are on the rise.  We are now at the halfway point to the end date set the achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that we adopted in September 2015 at the United Nations General Assembly, coincidentally held at that time, under Uganda’s presidency. The SDGs are our global plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions by 2030. With a pledge to leave no one behind and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. And the report card half way through is disappointing.

In most sports-related competitions, the ‘Half-Time’ announcement is used to reflect, assess strengths and shortcomings, and re-strategize. At Half-time, a contest can neither be considered won or lost, regardless of the score. The questions that beg to be asked are: How are we faring exactly globally and nationally? What actions must be taken to achieve the SDGs? Or at the very least achieve GREAT progress towards them?

Globally, at the midway point to 2030, the SDGs are severely off-track. For the first time in decades, development progress is reversing under the combined impacts of climate disasters, conflict, economic downturn and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inequalities have worsened, strikingly so for women and girls. Tens of millions have fallen into poverty.

The UN Secretary General has just released a report that I encourage all to be familiar with. Securing a life of dignity for all, no matter where we live, on a healthy planet is of course possible – we have the smarts, technology and finances. And need an unwavering resolve to work for the global & common good.

Here in Uganda, despite Government’s commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda and an economic growth rate steadily returning towards pre-covid 19 projections of 6-7%, the national development picture mirrors the global picture. And in summary will simply note that in the mid-term review of the third National Development Plan (NDP-III), which is the national articulation of the SDGs, the National Planning Authority (NPA) concluded that only 17% of the targeted results have been achieved so far. And while there are a number of reasons for this, many out of Government’s control, I think we will all agree that we simply must do better to manifest the development results we claim we want.  

The UN system in Uganda is currently supporting the Government’s preparations for the SDGs Summit that will be convened in September. During the Summit all members states are expected to share their rescue plans to achieve the SDGs including identification of High Impact Initiatives. During the Summit, Heads of State and Government will carry out a comprehensive review of the state of the SDGs at mid-way their implementation and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions to realize the 2030 targets. We must be ambitious (both in terms of the plans and the rigor required in implementing those plans) – to match the scope of our challenges.

While we (who are present) in the room are not the ultimate decision makers – we are not our heads of states who ultimately have the political responsibility to lead us from where we are to where we wish to be, we in the room, all play very important roles in terms of implementation of the political vision of our Heads of States. We are the Advisers, Academicians, Civil Servants, the Citizens – both national & global, the Diplomats etc.  We are all part of the cast of characters that play important roles to actualize the vision of our global agreements.

Madiba’s legacy is about the actions he took to live his values of commitment to social justice, reconciliation and human rights. And as we honor him today, I hope we all reflect on the actions we can take to make a positive impact on our communities and the world, in ways that help actualize our global goals and the values that underpin it. We need action that shows our fundamental shifts in commitment, solidarity, financing, and implementation that puts us back on track to end poverty, realize just societies and reset a balanced relationship with the natural world - nationally and globally.

Let me end with one of Madiba’s quotes: “Do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision.” Nelson Mandela

May we all strive to bring forth a brighter future for all through our actions to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, as we honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

Thank you.