United Nations
Development Programme

Plot 15B Clement Hill Road

P.O Box 7184

Kampala, Uganda

Tel: (256) 414-233440/1/2/5

Fax: (256) 414-344801

Email: registry.ug@undp.org

The United Nations in Uganda has called on the Government of Uganda to strengthen and judiciously implement strategies aimed at bringing about equitable development in the country. The UN said inequitable development makes the country more vulnerable to ills like conflict and HIV/AIDS and therefore is a burden in achieving national progress. 

On  the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the UN said although Uganda has made significant strides in poverty eradication, bringing down poverty levels from 56% to 31% in two decades, and may be on its way to meet the MDG 1 targets, there is a large gap between the poor and the rich.

In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, “At a time of multiple global crises, the poorest and most vulnerable have a special claim on our attention. We know that, in any recession, those hurt first—and worst—are the poor.”

The UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative, Theophane Nikyema said
“Statistics show that northern Uganda is the worst performing region in terms of development indices and poverty prevalence,” adding, “this makes the region more vulnerable but also a development burden.”

In Uganda, the poverty situation has been aggravated by food shortage in some parts of the country.

The United Nations World Food Programme in Uganda has taken a major step in support of food and nutrition security in Uganda with the roll out of the global development initiative Purchase for Progress (P4P).

Working closely with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, WFP aims to support the Government to expand market opportunities for small-holder farmer groups through improved infrastructure and enhanced production.

WFP is addressing barriers that have long prevented small-holder farmer groups from accessing regional quality food markets -- things like the lack of market information, proper stores and roads, as well as modern drying and cleaning equipment. In addition, the agency has begun to vary its purchase mechanisms so as to be able to buy more food. Previously it bought food only through tendering; now it also makes direct purchases through the warehouse receipt system. Later this year, WFP will begin to make forward contracts with small-holder farmer groups.

"In the next few years, P4P should enable WFP to double the amount of food that it has been buying in recent years in Uganda, to make about US$100 million worth annually," Country Director Stanlake Samkange said.
"That way, Uganda farmers will have a clear opportunity to benefit from rather than be victims of the global food crisis.”

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Families and children speak out against poverty.” Celebrations in Uganda will be jointly done with the Global Call for Action against Poverty/Stand up Activities as well as activities organised in conjunction with the United Nations Association of Uganda.

The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is traced back to 17 October 1987 when thousands of people, gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris (France) - same place where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. The gathering proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17th to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor.

Through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.