KAMPALA, 31st March 2021 - The State Minister of Finance for Planning, Hon. David Bahati yesterday signed the Ninth GoU/UNFPA Country Programme Business Plan (2021-2015), on behalf of the Government of Uganda.
Speaking during the signing ceremony Hon. Bahati congratulated the Government of Uganda, UNFPA, and the other Implementing Partners upon the successful implementation of the Eighth GoU/UNFPA Country Programme, which ran from 2016 to 2020 and forward to the implementation of the new Programme.
“I am happy that the Ninth Country Programme prioritizes transformative and inclusive governance; shared prosperity in a healthy environment; and human well-being and resilience,” He said.
The Ninth Country Programme is aligned with national development priorities as elaborated in the Third National Development Plan (NDP III), focusing on empowering young people, women and marginalized groups, improving the uptake of reproductive health services including family planning, strengthening data systems, and preventing maternal deaths, new HIV infections, and gender-based violence.
The Business Plan is a legally binding document that outlines the modalities of implementation of the Country Programme. It outlines that UNFPA will implement the Ninth Country Programme (2021 -2025) through national and sub-national government partners including sectoral ministries and district structures. The National Population Council (NPC) under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will be the coordinating authority for the Programme. Other partners will include the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Gender, labour and social development, the Ministry of Education and Sports, among other line ministries and sectors, as well as non-governmental organizations, religious and cultural institutions, community and youth-led organizations.
On behalf of UNFPA, the Business Plan was signed by Mr. Alain Sibenaler, the UNFPA Representative in Uganda. The Director General, National Population Council, Dr. Jotham Musinguzi witnessed the signing ceremony.
- Written by Prossy Jonker Nakanjako