Despite remarkable progress in some MDG goals such as education, gender and HIV/AIDS, severe challenges still remain for Uganda. In the Karamoja region, the attainment of the MDGs has been poor due to the insecurity caused by the cattle raiding.
UNDP supported the formulation and capacity building of a Parliamentarian Forum on MDGs which serves to promote the MDGs in Uganda. Through monitoring government budgets and programmes the Forum ensures that the MDGs remain a priority for the government.
In 2008, UNDPs’ support to the Forum focused on three main areas:
· establishing a functioning office for the Forum,
· developing the Forum’s strategic plan
· supporting the Karamoja think tank that focuses on achievement of MDGs in the Karamoja region.
The Forum members unanimously agreed to focus on the Karamoja region this year as this is one of the poorest performing regions as far as the MDGs are concerned. Karamoja region comprises of six districts namely: Moroto, Kotido, Kabong, Nakapiripiriti, Abim and Katakwi. Karamoja region and has had a long history of inter-clan wars and intertribal armed cattle raids. This has resulted in long time underdevelopment and loss of lives of very many people within the productive ages.
The Karamoja situation has not only affected the communities inside Karamoja, but also neighboring districts in Acholi, Lango and Teso sub regions.
Under the leadership of the Chair of the Forum, Members of Parliament from that region have mobilised the Chief Administrative Offices and the various district leadership, the Planners and CSO networks to participate in a dialogue in December in Moroto that will focus on the status of MDGs in that region, the gaps of the existing programmes and the action needed to improve the conditions.
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