By Kabuye Ronald
The United Nations Association of Uganda on Wednesday convened a meeting of local political leaders in Kampala at Ministers Village Hotel in Ntinda to discuss how leadership can accelerate the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Richard Baguma Tinkasimiire, Secretary General of UNAU, said Uganda’s National Development Plan is anchored in the global SDGs. He emphasized that achieving these development objectives requires active involvement from political leaders through effective service delivery, proper budget allocation, and the formulation of supportive policies and laws.
“We engaged leaders, including newly elected ones, to help them understand the link between development objectives, the global SDG agenda, the National Development Plan, and local government needs,” Baguma said. “This ensures that when they allocate resources or enact ordinances, their actions contribute directly to achieving these goals by the time they leave office and by 2030.”
Hajji Kakaire Ashraf, the SDGs focal point at Open Space Centre and lead facilitator of the training, noted that local governments form the operational backbone of SDG implementation. He highlighted Uganda’s transition from Voluntary National Reviews to localized reporting as a key step in strengthening accountability and impact.
“It is encouraging to see local leaders, especially councillors, taking interest in the goals and their role in improving livelihoods, protecting the environment, and driving national development,” Kakaire said. “Through this training, we are aligning their efforts with the country’s progress and the remaining years toward 2030.”
Nambaale Zaintuni, a councillor from Lubaga Division, applauded UNAU for the initiative, saying it enhanced her understanding of how to better serve her community and contribute to achieving the SDGs. She also emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing community challenges.
Councillor Kaggwa Deo said the training opened leaders’ eyes to the direct connection between SDGs and local governance. He noted that poor prioritization, such as focusing heavily on road construction without addressing underlying issues like flooding, undermines sustainable development.
“In Kampala, roads often deteriorate within a few years because flooding is not adequately addressed,” Kaggwa said. “We must prioritize long-term solutions and anticipate future challenges rather than focusing on short-term gains.”
The training was held ahead of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which will be convened under the theme: “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all.”
