KAMPALA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday announced that some of the gains it had made in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have been eroded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mary Karooro Okurut, minister for general duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, told reporters that the pandemic hit at a time when the SDGs were gaining traction in the East African country.
"This will not deflate Uganda's commitment to implement the Agenda 2030," she said.
"We must not, even in these challenging times, shift resources away from crucial SDG actions. The response to the pandemic cannot be delinked from the SDGs," the minister added.
Rosa Malango, the UN Resident Coordinator, said Uganda is working with the UN system in the country to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
Malango said the UN is working with government and youths to get 1 million SDG solutions. The solutions will be created through an innovation competition where the best start-up will stand a chance to be funded by the UN and partners.
The two leaders were speaking ahead of the country's presentation of its 2020 Voluntary National Review Report, which details progress made towards attainment of the SDGs. Enditem
