Uganda has taken center stage this week as it hosts the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11), a pivotal continental event unfolding at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
For the first time, Uganda is welcoming this high-level forum, co-organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Union Commission, and development partners.
The week-long gathering has drawn representatives from more than 50 African countries, including ministers, policy makers, civil society leaders, youth advocates, development experts, and private sector actors.
Held under the theme “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 for Inclusive and Green Recovery in Africa,” the forum aims to assess the continent’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, while also shaping concrete strategies for acceleration.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to officially open the forum, joined by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and senior officials from the UN and AU. Kasaija, in his keynote address, will highlight Uganda’s steadfast commitment to sustainable development and regional cooperation.
UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete emphasized the forum’s urgency.
“Africa is facing overlapping crises—from climate change and food insecurity to economic shocks and conflict. ARFSD-11 is a call to action to build inclusive, green, and resilient systems,” Gatete said.
The Kampala event is more than just talk. Uganda has lined up exhibitions, innovation showcases, and side events that spotlight national progress in climate adaptation, youth empowerment, digital transformation, and gender equality.
These showcases are expected to elevate local voices and promote homegrown solutions tailored to Africa’s unique development context.
A major highlight of the forum will be the adoption of the Kampala Declaration, a roadmap that will articulate Africa’s unified stance ahead of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.
Stakeholders say ARFSD-11 is a turning point for Africa’s sustainability journey—and Uganda is playing a key role in shaping that future.
By hosting this influential forum, Uganda is not just facilitating dialogue but asserting itself as a regional driver of green recovery, inclusive development, and sustainable transformation.
