10th ECOSOC: Prime Minister Nabanja reaffirms Uganda’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda

Rt Hon Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja, during the 33rd meeting of the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC delivered the national statement, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

Nabbanja appealed on Monday while addressing the opening session of the 10th United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development at the UN Headquarters in New York.

“Uganda believes in the power of collective action and solidarity,” Nabbanja told delegates. “Now more than ever, we must reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism and ensure that no person or country is left behind.”

She emphasized Uganda’s progress in implementing the SDGs and reaffirmed the country’s dedication to inclusive development, especially among vulnerable and marginalized populations. “We have made remarkable strides in ensuring that development reaches every Ugandan,” she said, highlighting national initiatives that target poverty reduction, education, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability.

This year’s forum comes at a critical juncture as the United Nations prepares to mark its 80th anniversary, with only five years remaining to meet the 2030 Agenda. Global progress on the SDGs has stalled in many regions, prompting calls for urgent action.

The theme of the 2025 ECOSOC and HLPF sessions — “Advancing Sustainable, Inclusive, Science- and Evidence-Based Solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Its SDGs for Leaving No One Behind” — underscores the need for data-driven and inclusive approaches to sustainable development.

Uganda’s delegation to the forum includes Minister for General Duties at the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Kasule Lumumba; Chairperson of the National Planning Authority, Prof. Pamela Mbabazi; Uganda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Godfrey Kwoba; and Dr. Albert Byamugisha, Director of the SDG Secretariat in Uganda.

Besides, leveraging a strategic “4 ATMs” approach; Agro-industrialization, Tourism, Minerals and petroleum, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uganda is implementing its Fourth National Development Plan, localizing the Goals in Local Governments.

Uganda has also implemented a 10-Point SDG Acceleration Strategy focusing on; Education, Health, Energy, Infrastructure, youth employment, Digitalization, data systems, and access to finance through PDM, among others.

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .

The HLPF was established at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012 in its outcome "The Future We Want". The HLPF is an integral part of the global architecture for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

The Forum is convened annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for eight days, including a three-day ministerial segment, The Forum conducts regular in-depth reviews of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and includes Voluntary National Reviews where countries present the findings from national reviews of progress with a view to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The HLPF brings together ministerial and high-level representatives of governments, as well as a wide range of expertise and stakeholders, including heads of UN entities, academics and other experts, and representatives of major groups and other stakeholders. The Forum under the auspices of ECOSOC and the ECOSOC High-level Segment adopt a negotiated ministerial declaration.

Every four years, the Forum is also convened at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly and is referred to as an “SDG Summit”. The Forum under the auspices of the General Assembly adopts a negotiated political declaration. The first SDG Summit was convened in September 2019. The second SDG Summit was held in September 2023 and adopted the 2023 Political Declaration .