TOWARDS ACHIEVING MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES: STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES IN UGANDA
By
Professor Isaac M.N.
Kigongo-Bukenya (PhD)
Brown Scholar
Spring 2012
The MDGs: concept, philosophy and history
The MDGs were adopted by the Millennium Summit. The Millennium Summit was a meeting
among many world leaders lasting three days from 6 September to 8 September 2000 at the
United Nations headquarters in New York City. Its purpose was to discuss the role of the United
Nations at the turn of the 21st century. At this meeting, world leaders ratified the United Nations
Millennium Declaration that aimed to "free all men, women, and children from the abject and
dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty."
Heads of State at the Summit
The disparity in development between the developed and developing countries was
embarrassingly too huge that drastic measures had to be taken to accelerate political, economic,
scientific and technological development among the poor nations of the world. The Declaration
confirmed that every individual has the right to dignity, freedom, equality, and basic standard of
living that included freedom from hunger and violence, and encourages tolerance and solidarity
(Kabeer, 2010).
The MDGs targeted three major issues in context of human development: bolstering human
capital, improving infrastructure, and increasing social, economic and political rights. The major
focus was towards increasing basic standards of living
Summary of the MDGs
The 8 MDGs promulgated were:
1. Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. It targets reduction to half the population of
the people living on less than $1 a day; decent employment for women, men and young
people; and reduce to half the number of people who suffer from hunger.
2. Achievement of Universal Primary Education. The target set being that all children
should attain primary education by 2015
3. Promotion of gender equality and empower women; targets elimination of gender
disparity in primary and secondary schools by 2015.
4. Reduction of child mortality rates; targets reduction to two-thirds of the under-five
mortality rate
5. Improvement of maternal mortality rate; targets set were to: reduce by three quarters the
maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2015 and achieve universal access to
reproductive health.
6. Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; targets halting and reversing the
spread of HIV/AIDs by 2015; by 2015 achieve universal access to treatment of
HIV/AIDS and also halt and begin reversing the incidences of malaria and other major
diseases.
7. Ensuring environmental sustainability. Targets: integration of principles of sustainable
development into country policies and programmes and also reverse loss of
environmental resources; reduction biodiversity loss, achieving significant reduction in
the rate of loss, by 2015 reduce to half the population without access to safe drinking
water, and basic sanitation; and to have improved the lives of 100 million slum dwellers
8. Developing global partnership. Targets: developing open, rule based, predictable, nondiscriminatory trading and financial system; address special needs of the least developed
countries (LDC); address special needs of landlocked developing countries and small
island developing states; deal with debt problems of developing countries through
national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term.
Africa’s challenges to achieving MDGs
The MDGs target timeframe for full attainment was 15 years i.e. 2000 -2015. At the Tenth
Anniversary 2010, a review of the achievement of the MDGs was made. The conclusion was that
ten years after the adoption of MDGs, mixed achievements were registered: the MDGs had been
achieved by countries in North Africa and a few in the South Sahara countries; in other countries
the MDGs were very likely to be achieved; still in others MDGs were possible to be achieved if
changes were put in place; in other countries MDGs were off track; and in other countries there
was no adequate information about MDGs development. In general the achieving of the MDGs
was far from being achieved. The causes of irregular achievement of the MDGs were attributed to
the following challenges.
Low capacity and quality of government
It is assumed that this is the key cause of government to ensure effective management of the
projects, accountability, and rule of law, fighting corruption and creating a business environment
friendly to domestic and foreign investors. Without capable government the above cannot be
achieved and the MDGs would not be easily attained
Insufficient investment in key social services - health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation
This has resulted into production of inadequate workforce which is well trained, well fed, well
remunerated and healthy enough to offers services directed to the attainment of the MDGs.
Civil wars and internal disturbances
These have lead to political instability frequent wars arising fromto different political ideologies
and big power infiltration resulting into instability , loss of life, and destruction of infrastructure
Gender inequality
Has lead to ignorance of human rights and discrimination approach policy to development with
the consequences of wars and violent conflict disrupting livelihoods, destroy infrastructure,
reverse gains and pollute investment climate
Clinging on power
E.g Mugabe, Kaddafi, Mubarak, etc. lead to civil conflict and displacement of the people in those
countries causing human suffering famine and environmental degradation.
HIV/AIDS pandemic
Has depleted human capital, the very foundation of social development and human beings who
would manage and service development
Illiteracy
Has condemned many nationals to non-participation in the democracy process, hence non
effective participation in the development process
The digital divide
Political, economic, social and technological development is particularly associated to countries USA, Japan, Russia, Europe, etc. with highly developed ICTs infrastructure, hardware and
software and well trained and experienced workforce for its application. Unfortunately much of
Africa is still under the heavy burden of computer illiteracy, information illiteracy, lack of
infrastructure, and lack of adequate ICTs engineers a combination of which has stagnated
achievement of MDGs in Africa.
Uganda’s Progress in Implementing the MDGs
According to the World Bank Vice-President for Africa region, Obagelli Ezenkwesili (2010),
Uganda would achieve the MDGs by 2015 if it doubled its efforts. Uganda rating on achieving
each of the MDGs follows below:
THE RATING OF UGANDA PERFORMANCE ON THE MDGs
GOAL
TITLE
RATING
ONE
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Very likely to be
achieved-on track
TWO
Achieve Universal Education
Very likely to be
achieved-on track
THREE
Promote gender equality and empower women
Very likely to be
achieved-on track
Dr Maria G. Musoke, LIS
Professor and University
Librarian
FOUR
Reduce Child mortality
Ms Gertrude Kayaga Mulindwa,
Director, National Library of
Uganda
On track
FIVE
Improve maternal health
On track
SIX
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Possible to achieve
if some changes
are made
SEVEN
Ensure environmental sustainability
Possible to achieve
if some changes
are made
EIGHT
Develop global partnership for development
Dr Kendra Albright and Dr
Edwin Cortez with Prof Maria
Musoke at the signing the
MoU between EASLIS and
SoIS Univ. of Tennessee.
Partners’ meeting in
Washington, DC
Source: http://www.mdegmonitor..org/country_progress.cfm?c=UGA&cd=800 Retrieved 20/1
/2011
CHALLENEGES REVIEWED AS PER MDGs IN UGANDA
The challenges explained at the international level are similar at the national, district and village
level in Uganda. These are examined under each MDG.
One: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
The social infrastructure in the villages has collapsed. The youth engage in matatu instead of
profitable activities such as agriculture, fishing, trade, etc. There is an epidemic of youth selling
off their land to buy small motorcycles for transport business; bodas have overflowed the
market and the youth do not profit much. Consequently they fall out of business and frustrated
because they have nowhere to go after selling their land. Other youth are lured into odd jobs in
towns such as ferrying goods on wheel burrow, car washing, hawking, etc. They are in the
poverty circle. The agricultural sector also faces multitude of problems - bad prices,
unpredictable weather, and destructive pests. The business sector and other professional
businesses are not any better due to the inflation which reduces profits. In the circumstances
many Ugandans are condemned to unemployment. The overall result is reduced income and
static per capita.
Two: Achieve Universal Education
Some parents resist sending their children to school and instead take them into quarries to dig
stones; fishing; or looking after animals, etc. No adequate infrastructure: school premises,
offices, staff houses, library. Other drawbacks include; inadequate trained teachers; poor and
late pay; parents reluctance to pay school requirements e.g. meals, exercise books; government
inadequate support and supervision; ghost teachers and corrupt officials. All the above and
more prevent many primary age children to benefit from free education.
Three: Promote gender equality and empower women
Primary and secondary free education, the 1.5 policy at Makerere, the gender policy and
education policy have increased women graduates, promotion to responsible positions and
political participation. However, there are still drawbacks including: cultural discrimination
against women- education priority to boys (girls for early marriage); poverty among parents; and
HIV/AIDS pandemic
Four: Reduce Child mortality
This goal still faces un uphill task. Infrastructure is inadequate – children’s hospitals,
dispensaries, clinics are missing; inadequate medical staff; traditional beliefs and treatment;
unhygienic practices; resistance to children disease preventative measures (inoculation,
vaccination, etc. against polio, malaria, measles, etc.); unhygienic environment and pollution
etc. The worst blow in this sector is the corrupt staff misusing medical supplies and facilities for
their personal enrichment, theft of drugs, absenteeism, and negligence.
Five: Improve maternal health
Pressing challenges in this sector include: lack of ante-natal clinics in the rural areas and
maternal referral hospitals; inadequate staffing; lack of facilities – labor wards, beds and
beddings; inefficient and negligent staff; inadequate treatment facilities, lack of maternal
education, and corrupt officials stealing drugs and misappropriatingl funds
Six: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Despite International great support in terms of technical staff, drugs, equipment, financial
support to build infrastructure, buy vehicles, pay staff bills, training and dissemination of
information, and sensitization, the battle against HIV/AIDS and other diseases is yet to be worn.
The polygamous culture of many Ugandans, misuse and overconfidence over preventative
measures e.g. condoms, antiviral drugs ; poverty leading to sexual- trade; negligence of
medical practitioners, etc. are still big road blocks. Worse of all is the corruption among officials
that has lead to misappropriation of funds for personal use.
Seven: Ensure environmental sustainability
The government has made great efforts to ensure environmental sustainability including making
and enforcement of environmental laws and policies. However, these laws have been poorly
enforced and lead to illegal pit sawing, encroachment of wetlands for agriculture and erection of
business or domestic buildings; poverty which has in turn lead to cutting down trees for charcoal
and wood.
Eight: Develop global partnership for development
Partnership has been evolved in Uganda involving the United Nations and its organizations such
as UNESCO, WHO, etc.; the World Bank; the African Development Bank; other international
development agencies such NORAD, SIDA, DANIDA; American Aid Agencies; Foundations e.g.
Carnegie, Ford, and Rockefeller. The problem in this sector has been mismanagement of
projects and the rampant corruption among the administrators of these projects. This forced
the partners stop or cut aid to the MDGs.
THE WAY FORWARD
Bukenya (2010) argued that the biggest problem against MDGs achievement was the failure to
popularize them by making them understood and accessible to the stakeholders particularly the
ordinary people. It begs the question of information provision to the MDGs managers and also the
consumers of the goals. Both should know and participate n the process.
The way forward is an appeal to all stakeholders. We should resolve to fight and conquer the
above challenges particularly corruption and ignorance. Those are the biggest umbrella threats to
the achievement of the MDGs: the splendid world venture towards the solution of human
suffering. The “promised land” is the promotion of humanity and justice in the world.
REFERENCES
Bukenya, C (2010). Making MDGs popular among ordinary citizens. New Vision, Monday,
October 18, 2010.
Kasita, Ibrahim (2010). Uganda could attain MDGs by 2015- World Bank. New Vision, Monday,
October 11, 2010.
Mahapatra, G. 7 Das, B. (2000). Changing needs and challenges of library & Information Science
Professionals: Aspirations and responsibilities. In Proceedings of XIX National Seminar of
IASLIC, Library and Information Profession at the crossroads. Calcutta: IASLIC, (pp.67-74).
Millennium Development Goals (2011).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenium_Development_Goals (accessed April 8, 2011).
United Nations (2006). The Millennium Development Goals Report: United Nations
Development. www.undp.org/publications/MDGReport2006.pdf (accessed April 8, 2011).
Womakuyu, Frederick (2010). Donations only cannot help us achieve the MDGs
New Vision, Tuesday, October 5
"General
Assembly
Session
55,
Meeting
3".
http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_55/meeting_3.
6
September
2000.
"General
Assembly
Session
55,
Meeting
8".
http://www.undemocracy.com/generalassembly_55/meeting_8.
8
September
2000.
"UN summit agenda; The largest gathering of world leaders in history meets in New York to
discuss the role of the United Nations in the 21st century.". BBC News. 2000-12-07.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/904903.stm. Retrieved 2012-1-27.
"The
Millennium
Summit
and
Its
Follow
Up".
Global
Policy
http://www.globalpolicy.org/msummit/millenni/index.htm. Retrieved 2012-1-27.
Forum.
"Reclaiming the Future: The Millennium Summit". HighBeam Encyclopedia. HighBeam
Research. 2000-09-22. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-70654218.html. Retrieved 2012
01-27.
"United Nations Millennium Declaration". http://www.rcgg.ufrgs.br/msd_ing.htm. Retrieved
2012-01-27.
"A/res/55/2
United
Nations
Millennium
http://www.un.org/millennium/declaration/ares552e.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
Declaration".