By Fidel Boy Fidel
In a world gripped by division, climate shocks, and economic uncertainty, Uganda is charting a different course, one defined by inclusion, vision, and determination.
This week, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja stood at the heart of the global stage at the 10th session of the UN ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York and called for a renewal of what the world seems to have lost: solidarity.
“We must now recommit to multilateralism, solidarity, and international cooperation to ensure that no person or country is left behind,” Nabbanja said, delivering Uganda’s national statement during the opening session chaired by H.E. Bob Rae, President of the 2025 ECOSOC Session and Canada’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
With just five years to 2030, and with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lagging in many parts of the world, Uganda is not only recommitting, it is stepping up.
Uganda’s message was more than rhetoric. The country’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIII) is fully aligned with the SDGs and has already been localised in over 135 districts, a notable feat in a world where national plans often remain on paper.
“With strong political leadership and coordination, our approach has been anchored in inclusive, evidence-based planning and national ownership,” Nabbanja said, speaking with clarity and conviction.
At the core of this strategy is Uganda’s “4 ATMS” framework, a blend of priority sectors driving economic transformation like Agro-industrialisation, Tourism, Minerals and Petroleum, Science, Technology, and Innovation
Together, these pillars are designed not just to grow the economy, but to ensure that growth is inclusive and job-rich.
Nabbanja also unveiled Uganda’s 10-Point SDG Acceleration Strategy, which targets priority areas such as Education,Health,Youth employment,Energy,Infrastructure,Digitalisation and data systems and access to finance through the Parish Development Model
This multi-sector approach signals that Uganda sees the SDGs not as a checklist, but as a national transformation agenda.
“Our flagship strategy is to uplift households from subsistence to the money economy,” Nabbanja emphasised, tying development goals directly to daily realities.
Nabbanja’s tone was not one of plea but partnership. She urged global leaders to act with urgency, reform outdated global systems, and build strong alliances rooted in mutual respect.
“Let us recommit to achieving the SDGs, leaving no one behind, and securing a just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all,” she concluded.
With global tensions rising and trust in multilateralism fraying, Uganda’s message landed as a clarion call, a reminder that shared challenges demand shared solutions.
The delegation was led by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja and included key national figures such as Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, Minister for General Duties; Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, Chairperson of the National Planning Authority; Ambassador Godfrey Kwoba, Uganda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Dr. Albert Byamugisha, Head of Uganda’s SDG Secretariat.
Their presence underscored the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrated that Uganda’s implementation strategy is anchored at the highest levels of government, with a focus on cross-sector collaboration, policy coherence, and measurable results.
The theme of the 2025 HLPF, “Advancing Sustainable, Inclusive, Science-and Evidence-Based Solutions for the 2030 Agenda”, is not just a slogan. For Uganda, it is a working formula.
But the elephant in the room remains: Can the rest of the world keep up? Will global powers match Uganda’s commitment with fairer financing, technological access, and equitable partnerships?
Uganda is proving that progress is possible, even amid global slowdowns. But just like the proverb says, going far requires going together. And as the countdown to 2030 accelerates, solidarity is no longer optional. It is the only way forward.