Civil society group wants Uganda's development challenges tackled
Members of the Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (NGO Forum) on Wednesday met in Kampala to review and make a detailed report to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres; regarding critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“In two weeks we should be able to have compiled a report on critical challenges identified under SDGs 6,7,12 and 15 to be forwarded to the UN Secretary General in New York and copied to the Uganda Prime Minister’s office, since we work in partnership with government”, he said.
He identified critical areas where government faces a lot of challenges to include; availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation, sustainable energy for all, regulation of corporate activity and waste, consumer education and environment stewardship and protection of the planets ecosystem among others.
He called upon Ugandan NGOs to endeavour make annual reports on behalf of SDGs and stop being local.
“We have asked other NGO Forums from Egypt and the African NGO League to work together with us”, he added.
The executive director; Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET) Yiga Musaazi, said Uganda faces a big challenge in availing water and sanitation for all, which affects all other sectors, due to wetland encroachment and destruction of forests.
A representative of Uganda National Renewable and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA) Noah Asinge, said 80 per cent of Ugandans use charcoal stoves and only 21 per cent get access to electricity.
He added that low awareness campaigns and taxes on mobile money are major bottlenecks that hinder access to electricity and other forms of alternative energy.
