“Without Me, It Won’t Happen!”
Poverty, Health and Inequalities and Corruption Main Concerns at Global Citizens’ Day of Action in Luwero – #LightTheWayUg
As part of the build up to United Nations General Assembly, under Action2015 movement, CSOs globally mobilized citizens to call upon their leaders to take action on poverty, inequality and climate change as they adopt the new Global development agenda.
On 24th September, thousands of Ugandans turned up at Kasana Sports Grounds Luwero, joining millions around the world, to celebrate the Global Citizens’ Day of Action. Organized by UNNGOF and CODI, in partnership with Luwero NGO Forum, Beat FM and CSOs on the Action 2015 Core Reference Group, this celebration was attended by about 3000 people, including school children, district and government leadership as well as ordinary citizens from within Luwero and around the country.
In his keynote, Mr Arthur Larok, Vice Chairperson of UNNGOF and Country Director of Action Aid International Uganda highlighted the key reason for holding the event as being able to hold the government accountable. He rationalized that for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to benefit the Ugandans, there is need for citizens to do their part – pay their taxes; participate in planning processes and avoid leaders who exchange bribes for votes. The crowd as implored to realise that without them, the SDGs would not become a reality for the country. Mr Larok urged that all effort should be made to have a government that will not steal money from its citizens; that will invest in all social services; respect its people; be accountable to its citizens and not segregate against its own people on the basis of tribe and social class. Only then would the SDGs be realised for Uganda as awhole – “Without Me, It wont happen!”
“…if the arm that should be enforcing law and order is the same arm that is corrupt, then there is no hope of achieving the SDGs.”, one Shamira shared her concerns at the citizen discussion on their experiences and desired changes for the world they want. The other key issues that emerged through both the citizen interviews and the plenary were the high levels of poverty; poor health services; and the huge gap between the rich and the poor. Also of concern were the poor quality of education and inadequate facilitation of teachers; land insecurity plagued by land grabbing; and creation of too many districts that have affected equitable and effective distribution of social services, inter alia.
There was also a @LightTheWayUg moment where with the famed local artist Bebe Cool, a torch was symbolically lit, along with candles and fireworks to bring home the message of lighting the way to ending poverty, inequalities and climate change.
There was also a @LightTheWayUg moment where with the famed local artist Bebe Cool, a torch was symbolically lit, along with candles and fireworks to bring home the message of lighting the way to ending poverty, inequalities and climate change.
