General
Mak and MAAIF Hold CAADP Malabo Declaration Action Planning Meeting
Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), on 30th August 2018 held Uganda’s action planning meeting to assess the implementation of the Malabo declaration.
The Malabo declaration was adopted during the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, held from 26th to 27th June 2014. It was aimed at accelerating agricultural growth and transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods mostly centred on small scale farmers’ agriculture.
During that meeting the AU Heads of State and Government adopted the Malabo declaration and committed to ending hunger by 2025 and to achieve this, they resolved to halve the current levels of post-harvest losses by the year 2025.
The declaration required that most of the African countries contribute at least 10% of their national budget towards Agriculture and since that time there have been follow-ups to see which countries have fulfilled the Malabo declaration through the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).
According to Prof. Archileo Kaaya; coordinator Uganda Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANAPAN) Uganda Node, CAADP is Africa's policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all.
FANAPAN is a multi-stakeholder network which supports the development of policies regarding food, agriculture and natural resources. It was established in 1987 by a group of Ministers from AU and is currently based in Pretoria, South Africa.
During the meeting held at Fairway Hotel, Prof. Kaaya also the Head, Department of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering explained that FANPAN has been writing proposals for support to agriculture and one of these was specifically aimed at addressing issues of the Malabo declaration.
“FANPAN got a grant from the African Green Revolution to establish dialogues, for finding the country’s position in line with fulfilling the Malabo CAADP declaration.
In order for each country to check its progress in fulfilling the Malabo declaration, they come up with an action plan which has thematic areas that the country promised to fulfill” he said.
The FANPAN funded meeting at Fairway Hotel attracted different Agricultural stakeholders like non-state actors, Makerere University staff, Local Governments and the private sector among others. It was aimed at identifying the gaps in the CAADP ahead of the Kigali-Rwanda meeting of which seven of Uganda’s commitments were identified as needing improvement.
They include; Re-committing to the CAADP process, Enhancing investment finance in Agriculture, Ending hunger by 2025, Halving poverty through Agriculture by 2025, Boosting intra-African Trade in Agriculture commodities and Enhancing resilience to climate change variability.
Prof. Kaaya noted that the Kigali meeting will gather all countries that make up the AU and each country will present their action plan in as far as implementing the CAADP is concerned.
“The ministry of Agriculture identified stunting, malnourishment; poverty and hunger reduction, climate change resilience, and environmental management as still very big problems, “he said.
He explained that each of the thematic areas which the country promised to fulfill has also got subthemes with activities that also have to be fulfilled.
“Looking at where we are doing badly according to the action plan, we want to see what budget can be attached to those areas to enhance development.
We want to see what technical support is needed to address the action problem, be it in the area of supporting technologies, what technical support is needed in developing the technology to address issues of post harvest losses, issues of storage and drying among others,” he said.
The theme for the Kigali forum is focusing on small holder farmers: “lead, measure, grow to enable new pathways to turn small holder farmers into future agri-businesses”.
According to Emmanuel Kimbowa, Senior Economist MAAIF, Uganda has not been performing well in fulfilling the Malabo declaration and yet agriculture is now a business that many smallholder farmers aspire to engage in.
He said that during the forum, AU countries’ presentations will be scored based on progress made in fulfilling the CAADP process. He added that Uganda can only fulfill this through a multi-sectoral approach.
“During our joint sector review, it was reported that the ranking was reduced to 39% but Uganda managed to score 45% yet we did not report on other areas. But if we embrace a multi-sectoral approach we can perform better, “he said.
Agnes Kirabo the Executive Director, Uganda Food Alliance, observed the need to engage the youth in whatever is done in Agriculture to enhance rapid growth.
“There are various opportunities for the youth in Agriculture and Value addition but we are currently not on track towards this objective because we have left them behind” she said.
Story compiled by Agnes Nankebe Nantambi,
For Communication Office, CAES
Makerere University and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA (ND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the two historic and leading research institutions in the areas of staff and student exchange, joint research and training, joint supervision of graduate students, and others.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University and Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the 18th President signed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony, which was held at the University of Notre Dame campus at South Bend, Indiana was witnessed by Dr. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Council of Makerere University, who led the Mak delegation.
Dr. Magara appreciated the institutionalisation of the collaboration between the two universities and the very warm hospitality accorded to the Mak delegation.
General
Press Release: Government of Uganda and Partners Launch SAY Plus+ to Scale Youth Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) Impact in Underserved Regions
USD 50 million national programme moves into full implementation, strengthening
adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to youth-responsive
services in 13 districts across five sub-regions
KAMPALA, 7 MAY 2026: The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the SAY Plus+ Programme, a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) initiative designed to strengthen adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to quality services in Uganda’s underserved regions.
The launch, held at Makerere University‘s Freedom Square under the theme “My Voice Matters: Youth Voices for SAY Plus+” and the tagline “Nothing for us, without us”, marks the programme’s transition into full implementation.
SAY Plus+, formerly known as Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment: Scaling Impact, is led by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with other Ministries, with UNFPA Uganda serving as the Managing and Technical Agency.
Backed by a USD 50 million pooled fund from the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the initiative is scheduled to operate between 2024 and 2030. It is currently being rolled out across thirteen districts within five sub-regions, providing targeted assistance to regional referral hospitals in Jinja, Mbale, Moroto, Yumbe, Arua, and Gulu. Furthermore, the programme supports the Human Capital Development goals established in Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
“SAY Plus+ represents a shift from fragmented interventions to a coordinated national effort that meaningfully places young people at the centre of both design and delivery. Through our partnership with the Government of Uganda, development partners, and implementing partners, we are investing not only in services, but in the systems, communities, and environments that enable adolescents and young people to thrive not only today but also in the future,” said Ms. Kristine Blokhus, Representative – UNFPA Uganda.
Officially launched by the Minister of State for Health Hon. Margaret Muhanga, the SAY Plus+ programme targets adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 years, with particular focus on adolescent girls and young women, refugees and host-community youth, out-of-school young people, those not in employment, education or training, adolescents with disabilities, and young people in humanitarian and post-conflict settings.
“For many of us, things like this one are designed without listening to what we go through every day, think or even feel. SAY Plus+ feels different because it starts with our voices and gives us a real role in shaping solutions. It is not just about information, it is about being supported to make decisions, access services, and build the future we want.” – Jovia Dranzoa, Young person.
SAY Plus+ operates through three pillars. First, it empowers youth to exercise their rights and make informed choices. Second, it engages families, communities, and leaders to address harmful social norms. Third, it strengthens youth-responsive SRHR, HIV, and gender-based violence services via health facilities and community platforms, aiming to reach over 2.3 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.
The SAY Plus+ initiative stands as a model of international cooperation and multi-sectoral synergy. Through the combined support of the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and the technical leadership of UNFPA, Uganda is now equipped to scale-up critical interventions in HIV prevention, gender-based violence response, and reproductive health. With implementation now in high gear through 2030, the programme is poised to make a lasting contribution to the nation’s human capital development goals.
— ENDS —
Photos from the event
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