PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE PREPAREDNESS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (2030 AGENDA)

DECEMBER 2018

CLOSE EXISTING GAPS

TO IMPLEMENT

THE SDGS

l NPA must review policies, strategies and processes for effective integration of SGDs. OPM should undertake regular follow up of Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for timely reporting.

l Fast track the review and update of enabling tools and instruments for effective implementation of SDGs.

l Parliament should enhance its oversight role by revising the existing checklists to include SDG.

l Technical capacity of planners at the different planning levels should be undertaken by NPA to identify gaps and facilitate integrated and multi-sectoral development planning for SDGs.

l OPM should ensure operationalization of SDGs coordination framework, full constitution of all TWGs, and quarterly progress meetings held to facilitate timely review and reporting.

l ICT ministry should fast track the full constitution and operationalization of its TWG.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

PEACE

PEACE

PLANET

PLANET

PROSPERITY

PROSPERITY

PARTNERSHIPS

PARTNERSHIPS

PEOPLE

PEOPLE

T H E R E P U B L I C O F U G A N D A

Auditing To Enhance Public Accountability

Audit House, Plot 2CApollo Kaggwa Road,

P. O. Box 7083, Kampala,Tel: 041-7-336000, Fax: +256 - 41 - 435674,

Email: info@oag.go.ug, Website: www.oag.go.ug

WITH SUPPORT FROM:

KEY FINDINGS The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) formulated the SDGs Coordination Framework in 2017 and launched the SDGs roadmap in 2018. However, key bottlenecks that still impede the full operationalization of the SDGs were identified;

Integration into National Context: The National Planning Authority (NPA) was expected to guide the review process for identification of applicable goals and targets, and their reflection in Uganda’s development plans; however, a review of the national policies to develop an action plan had not been done.

Alignment to SDGs: NPA’s assessment of NDPII alignment to SDGs was 69% (strategic level), yet the road map developed was unclear on when and how the 31% would be incorporated into the National development framework. Mapping and communicating the applicable targets and indicators for each Sector, MDAs, LGs and CSOs was pending hence making assessment of alignment to SDGs challenging.

Policy integration and coordination: Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and committees were not functioning as envisaged in the SDG coordination framework.

Stakeholder engagement: The level of public awareness on SDGs in the country remained low with no specific SDG outreaches to get views of various stakeholders. SDGs awareness messages’ translations into 10 local languages in form of brochures were made with no dissemination evidence as intended.

Mobilization: The finance ministry was developing a domestic revenue mobilization strategy for Uganda as per set targets under the NDPII. However, the NPA delay in integrating SDG targets into the national development plans presented a risk that the current revenue mobilization efforts may not fully address the needs of the SDGs.

Progress reporting: UBOS revealed that only 202 of the 230 global indicators were applicable to Uganda. Although the National Statistical System would cover all the 202 indicators, the present modules could only produce data for 85 indicators; of which data on 45 was fully available while the 40, required additional resources.

IN FIGURES

85202

45

230

Number of indicators whose data can be produced by current modules of

statistical systems

Total numbers of global indicators of sustainable

development goals

Number of global indicators applicable to Uganda

Number of indicators on which data is currently fully available

VISION: To be an efficient and effective Supreme Audit Institution in promoting effective public accountability

MISSION: Audit and report to Parliament and thereby make an effective contribution to improving public accountability and value for money spent

OVERALL AUDIT CONCLUSIONThe Government committed itself to implement SDGs over the next 15 years, formulated the Coordination framework and launched the SDGs roadmap in 2018. However, the existing gaps pose challenges for their implementation.

To ensure realization of expected SDGs benefits, full operationalization of the framework and roadmap remains key.

Public awareness

on SDGs in the

country is still low

UN Resident Coordinator, Rosa Malango hands over the symbolic ‘Global Goals’ bag to Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda in Kampala

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 aspirational goals that the UN member states are expected to use to frame their policies over the 15 years from January 2016 to December 2030. The SDGs seek to drive the economic, environmental and

social dimensions of sustainable development through five pillars namely: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships.The preparation of Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP)II (2015/16-2019/20) coincided with the inter-governmental negotiations on the

SDGs in 2015 and the SDGs framework was integrated into Uganda’s national plan. The Office of the Auditor General undertook a value for money (VFM) audit in June 2018, to assess the preparedness by the Government of Uganda to implement the SDGs.

The audit assessed the mechanisms and structures put in place by the government since September 2015 to June 2018 regarding the preparedness for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The audit verified the actions at the national and Local Government level.