The 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development opened on April 9, 2024, at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, with Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni presiding over the ceremony. The forum drew participants from all 54 African Union member states, united under the theme of accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063, and the 2030 Agenda within the final five-year stretch of the implementation period.
Among the notable voices at the forum was Uganda’s Executive Director and Chief Statistician, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, who featured prominently as a discussant in one of the high-level panel sessions. The panel focused on scaling up sustainable, inclusive, science-based, evidence-based, and data-driven solutions to spur economic growth, enhance job creation, and fast-track development outcomes across the continent.
In his remarks, Dr. Mukiza urged African leaders to move beyond rhetoric and focus on actionable strategies grounded in data and scientific evidence. He emphasized that with only a few years remaining to achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063 goals, Africa must urgently shift gears and intensify implementation efforts.
“Time is not on our side. We must invest in capacity development—particularly in human capital—so that our youth can drive innovation and development,” Dr. Mukiza said. He underscored the importance of equipping young people with skills in science, technology, and entrepreneurship to enable them to contribute meaningfully to national and continental transformation.
Dr. Mukiza also stressed the critical role of reliable and timely data in tracking progress and informing policy decisions. He called for strengthened national statistical systems across African countries, highlighting the need for better coordination, funding, and political will to build robust data ecosystems.
“Without accurate and disaggregated data, we are navigating in the dark. Decisions must be guided by facts, not assumptions,” he noted.
Furthermore, Dr. Mukiza advocated for enhanced collaboration among African nations, urging leaders to share best practices and pool resources where possible. He pointed to regional integration as a key driver for sustainable development, arguing that joint efforts in infrastructure, education, and health would yield greater results than isolated national initiatives.
The Ugandan statistician also highlighted the importance of aligning national development plans with continental and global agendas. He urged governments to mainstream the SDGs and Agenda 2063 targets into their budgeting and planning frameworks to ensure coherence and accountability.
As the forum continued through April 11, participants reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating action and deepening partnerships. Discussions centred on innovative solutions, financing mechanisms, and strategies to reach marginalized populations, especially women and youth.
Dr. Mukiza’s remarks resonated with many delegates, who applauded his call for urgency, evidence-based policymaking, and youth empowerment. His contributions added momentum to the forum’s outcomes, reinforcing the message that Africa can still achieve its goals—if decisive action is taken now.
The 11th Africa Regional Forum concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to intensify efforts, harness data and innovation, and work collectively toward the shared vision of a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable Africa.
