United Nations
Development Programme

Plot 24 Prince Charles Drive, Kololo

P.O Box 7184

Kampala, Uganda

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

Fax: (256) 414-344801

Email: registry.ug@undp.org

Kampala, 29/11/2007

For the first time in Uganda, UNDP jointly launched both the Global and National Human Development Reports. The theme for this year’s National Development Report is 'Rediscovering Agriculture for Human Development' whereas the theme for the Global Human Development Report is 'Fighting climate change, putting emphasis on Human Solidarity in a divided world'.

'The poor are suffering and will suffer more due to climate change', said UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Theophane Nikyema who commented on the reports while presiding at the ceremony. He added that today we are living with what we did yesterday and tomorrow we will live with what we do today. Mr. Nikyema informed the audience that UNDP was currently working with at least 10 universities to introduce the human development curriculum and this would play a key role in the teaching and application of human centered policies in the country.

The two reports cut across and point out clearly that if no action is taken on climate change, climate disasters will result in losses in agriculture. These losses will reduce income and diminish access to health, nutrition, and education, thereby restricting market opportunities and rebirthing poverty.

The State Minister for Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries, Hon. Fred Mukiisa, who presided at the ceremony as a representative for the Minister of Agriculture Animal industry and Fisheries, Hon. Hilary Onek, launched the 2 reports.

'The National Human Development report echoes a key message of agriculture which is the mainstay in Uganda today', said Mukiisa, while commending the report. He added that the reports will provide a basis and background to government when implementing policies on development. Hon. Fred Mukiisa further extended gratitude to UNDP, saying it had done a good job providing government with mirrors to examine themselves.

The launch of the 2 reports was followed by a presentation of the reports by The Millennium Development Goals Support Advisor Dr. Johnson Nkuuhe. While presenting the Global Human Development Report, he noted that failure to take significant action on climate change will hurt millions of people and consign them to lives of poverty and vulnerability. In his presentation of the Uganda Human Development Report, Dr. Nkuuhe pointed out the fact that Uganda had made considerable progress in poverty reduction, but eradicating poverty and attaining rapid, equitable and sustained economic development for social transformation remained Uganda’s major challenges to the achievements of the MDGs.

Prior to the end of the ceremony a plenary discussion was conducted, in which members from different sectors in Uganda participated, including: different members of parliament, bishops, lawyers, environmental activists, to mention but a few. In the discussion different issues concerning climate and agriculture were raised, and the ceremony was closed by the Minister of Water and Environment, Hon. Maria Mutagambwa.

In the National Human Development Report, it has been noted that rediscovering agriculture in the bid to advance human development in Uganda could be one sure way to eradicate poverty and make it a thing of the past. In the long run this will meet one of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals. However, the greatest global challenge facing humanity is climate change and this has slowed down advancement of human development, as declared in the Global Human Development Report. It is worth noting that economic growth alone is not enough to capture human development. If nothing tangible is done to reverse climate change, developing countries are likely to be exposed to a greater impact - unlike developed countries that happen to take the lead in polluting the environment.

UNDP has published annual Global and National Human Development Reports since 1990.