A concerted adoption for science, Technology and innovation is needed in order to meet the aspirations of the Agenda 2030, according to speakers at the Transformation Cadres Association Uganda (TCAU) SACCO intensive training workshop on sustainable development goals (SDGs).
TCAU is an umbrella for former member of parliament aspirants on ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) who lost in 2021 elections. The workshop was organized by the association’s SACCO with the support of Ambrosoli Consult Uganda Limited to equip members with knowledge of SDGs in order to prepare them for formulation of eye catching manifestos ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“President Museveni is promising you foreign investment, he has not understood Artificial Intelligence (AI). With AI, there will be no foreign investors because the cost of production is the same as what they produce in Washington and in Kampala because they are using machines which do not have salaries, work leave so the cost of production is high,” Dr. Otanga Rusoke, CEO Ambrosoli Consult Uganda Ltd.
HAPPENING NOW: Mr. Byamugisha Ambrose, MD @AmbrosoliUganda also the PRO for @TransformersUg (TCAU) SACCO speaking at the intensive training workshop on #SDGs taking place at Mulago Guest House. @DaisyOwomu64430 @henrybanyenzaki @RobertKakuru10 @FaridahNakalawa @allenka79 pic.twitter.com/EVazMoMZkK
— Parrots UG (@parrotsug) January 15, 2024
Dr. Otanga tasked African governments to adapt to advanced science and technology particularly in higher institutions of learning to to foster industrialization and production so that Africa can ably compete with other continents like Europe and Asia.
“You have to design your universities to develop advanced STI to reach AI. If you don’t reach AI, machines will replace you and you become more irrelevant and remain with nothing to do but to fight each other,” he said.
The behavioral science professor warned that Uganda will unfortunately collapse in about 40 years if the system does not change between now and 2080 to increase production and adapt to advanced science and technology.
Adrobe Kojo, (PhD) a Ghanaian International Development Expert working in Uganda said Africa is a rich continent endowed with plenty of mineral resources but challenges the education systems used in many African countries. He suggests for adoption of space technology in schools such as the study of robotics to enable young generations fit in the global modern advanced technology society.
Furthermore, Adrobe challenged TCAU members to relate the 17 SDGs to their constituencies in order to solve challenges of their constituents as soon as they are elected to parliament.
Dr. Daisy Owomugasho, Ugandan advocate for SDGs expressed concerns about realization of sustainable development goals in Uganda by 2030. She attributed this to inequalities, high level of corruption in the country. She appealed to the trainees to localize SDGs to national, and grassroots something she says will help government to recognize implications of neglecting those behind in efforts to achieve SDGs.
Owomugasho also said government should establish strong domestic institutions, while balancing the international trade system and restructuring the global financial architecture to achieve Goal 17 of the SDGs which is about partnerships.
Speaking at the workshop, former minister of state for economic monitoring (Office of the President) who doubles as the former MP Rubanga West (2011-16) in Kabale, Hon. Henry Banyenzaki, also the Chairman of TCAU SACCO said the purpose of the training workshop was to sensitize the para -parliamentarians on issues of legislation once elected to parliament.
Uganda is ranked 18th on the African continent and 141 with a score of 55.02 percent of sustainable development goals achievement, according to the SDG global index report.
Banyenzaki however says there is still need to extend training to the current parliament to ensure that lawmakers are aware of Uganda’s sluggish performance in regards to achieving of SDGs to effectively support and influence implementation of the goals.
Trainees Speak Out
Localizing SDGs: Brendah Atuhaire says she's ready to influence implementation and adoption of #SDGs to eradicate poverty, promote gender equality and improve on education and healthcare in Ruhinda South county as she gears for the constituency's top most seat 🪑 in 2026. pic.twitter.com/GoOTvFJGio
— Parrots UG (@parrotsug) January 15, 2024
Latigo Wilfred Collins, former MP aspirant for Adjumani East county commended government for efforts to achieve the UN sustainable development goals and called for more civic education to localize adoption and implementation of the goals. He said there is a political goodwill in promoting SDGs but decried inadequate information about the SDGs amongst members of the public which he says hinders implementation.
On the other hand, Lt. Moses Mugisha Magufuri (Rtd), a member of TCAU and former aspiring MP for Ntungamo municipality attributed Uganda’s poor performance sustainable development goals and anticipated failure to its realization to skyrocketing corruption, poverty, ignorance, greed and sectarianism among top officials in the government
Magufuri who has also declared candidature for Ntungamo municipality MP resounded the Inspector General of Government Beti Tirwomwe Kamya’s long time proposal to account individual lifestyles one way to zero down corruption practices in the country if Uganda was to achieve SDGs by 2030.
