Assessing the Global Development Agenda ( Goal 1 ) in Uganda : The Progress Made and the Challenges

The international development agenda (2000-2015) that was hailed in Uganda was unsuccessful and powerless in elevating individuals and groups to a place of comfort through the achievement of the MDGs. Hence, according to a survey of the Directorate of Social Protection in 2012, 67% of citizens of Uganda are either highly vulnerable to remaining in poverty or being poor.  This study therefore assesses the gains of the global development agenda (2000 – 2015) in Uganda. The study relies heavily on review papers, secondary dataset and material, and quasi-quantitative method in analyzing the research aim. Results show that ambiguous and unrealistic targets of the MDGs did not take into cognizance the structures, institutions, and interaction of systems and governance issues in Uganda. Despite these, the gains were also shortchanged as a result of drought, flood, and high prices of commodities, due to low farm production in most (rural) areas in Uganda. In addition to the drought and the negative effects of climate change, other challenges include deficient access to markets and market place, lack of motorized and non-motorized load-carrying wheel vehicles, lack of capacity and infrastructure, lack of mechanized farming implements, and the lack of access to credit reduced the potency of the achievement of most of its goals. However, significant strides were attempted and the country was able to achieve several targets, which are worth celebrating. The study contends that the realization of the SDGs will only be wishful thinking, if challenges of rural poverty, governance and institution are not put in check. Shared progress and prosperity as acclaimed by the World Bank will never be visible in Uganda.


Introduction
Awakening the millennium was the adoption of a universal goal of the UN in addressing global issues on eight major indicators (ref.), consequently agreed by 189 countries including Uganda in the UN Summit of September 2000 (Kiyimba, Alowo, & Abaliwano, 2011:1).The focus of the eight goals was to accelerate development of the world's poor (Amin, 2006).This paper inclines (intends) to analyse the eight goals of the MDGs in relation to its benefits to Uganda and the reasons it failed in achieving other goals.In so doing, the study is broken into two sections; the first setting the scene through the metamorphorical or the background of the initiative.Furthermore conceptual reviews where highlighted for major terms used in the study as poverty, poverty gap among others.
The second section houses the foundation of the investigation for the study, where the eight goals, 18 targets and 48 indicators were analysed in order to prove, or ascertain the progress and the reason behind the unfulfilled targets therefore elucidating the challenges that ravish the under-achievement of the developmental objectives of the UN development agenda 2000 -2015.

The Backdrop and Metamorphosis to MDGs
The downturn of non-implementable and unrealistic neoliberal economic policies that dominated international debates in the 1990s was reconsidered. 1 And a more encompassing viewpoint to the understanding of development and poverty in developing countries was the inclusion of the developing nations in formulating policies that concern them (Peeters, 2010).As a result of the failures of the Stabilisation and Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) (which made Uganda sell 80% of its industries to Asians) 2 introduced by both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (Decker 2003: 488;Betz 2003: 456).Hence, for the first time unprecedented UN conferences were held, aimed at "building consensus" for the development agenda in the 21 st century.Such conferences as, 1994 Cairo conference on population and 1995 Beijing conference on women in particular were some of the conferences that fashioned the priorities of the MDGs in 2000.

Africa's Public Service Delivery & Performance Review
At the state of global distraction and uncertainties of the global development agenda (McArthur, 2014: 5), leaders of 189 countries in the UN were cajoled to sign a historic commitment that aims to eradicate extreme poverty, improve welfarism, better and accessible health care and education of the world's poorest people within a stipulated time frame of 15 years in September 2000 (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) (Mitchell, nd).The commitment adopted at the summit set forth the UN Millennium Declaration, which stated the visions of the MDGs in eight priority areas (Mitchel, nd;United Nations, 2008;United Nation. 2016).This was premised on the need at the time and most importantly in halving poverty at 2015.

Poverty
Poverty in its nature is a dynamic concept, multifaceted, adapting and changing, which is premised on consumption patterns of an individual or household.In general, poverty is the lack/scarcity of basic needs that encapsulates the entirety of human existence.Hence, it is both a state (destitution) and a process (temporary) of lack in material wellbeing or possession, which is in consonance with deprivation, dearth, powerlessness, hunger, poor Medicare and general discomfort (UNESCO 2016;Sabates, 2008;Lok-Dessallien, 2000). 3overty levels are divided between relative and extreme poverty thresholds.The latter can be referred to as the state of vulnerability and destitution used in mainly developing countries.Hence, at a UN Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the concept was described as "a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.It depends not only on income but also on access to services." 4According to Robert McNamara, absolute or extreme poverty is a condition characterised by illiteracy, malnourishment, squalor, high infant mortality, lowered/ lowering life expectancy syndromes of human decency, and malnutrition (World Bank 2010;Sachs, 2005: 20).The former, relative poverty is used mainly in the developed countries in comparing standards of living within various developed nations in social context (Raphael, 2009).One of the foremost accounts given to relative poverty can be traced to Adam Smith's book, The Wealth of Nations, where he argued poverty is not limited to, "not only the commodities which are indispensably necessary for the support of life but whatever the custom of the country renders it indecent for creditable people, even of the lowest order, to be without" (Smith, 1776;Adamson, 2012).This tends to show that poverty also depends on the social class of an individual or household.Hence, the succinct summary of relative poverty by the sociologist Peter Townsend that, "individuals [...] can be said to be in poverty when they lack the resources to obtain the types of diet, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary, or are at least widely encouraged or approved, in the societies to which they belong" (Townsend, 1979: 31).

Poverty Threshold
The most consistent way for measuring poverty over the years has been through setting monthly average of income, which a family can survive with is called the Poverty Line (Odekon, 2006).The ideology that gained momentum in the World Poverty measurement standard tend to estimate those who are poor and who are not, by stipulating a mark or what might be referred to as a goal post in measuring the state of poverty per time.
According to Anguyo (2013), the poverty line used in achieving the 67% of the poor in Uganda by the Directorate of Social Protection was 1.20 (about sh3, 170) per day and those below 2.40 (about sh6, 340) per day. .

Poverty Gap
This is the disparity between the real income of households and the stipulated poverty line countrywide.In other words, poverty gap is the needed amount of funds that will uplift the entire population from below the poverty line to the poverty line of the country (Odekon, 2006), which can be understood both from real income of household to that of a single individual.

Basis for Analysis
By the year 2000, the United Nations established a set of development indicators for developing countries.This segment probed the data to underline the progress made and the challenges that remained in the developmental struggle of developing countries.Based on this discourse Uganda, a nation in sub-Saharan Africa, is analysed.
To assess adequately the progress made it is imperative to state that, while the goals of the MDGs are eight, it has further eighteen targets and forty-eight indicators for assessing progress made (see Table 1).The progress made on Goal 1 Uganda like most developing regions was applauded for its significant strides in achieving certain targets of the MDGs before its abolishment and replacement in September 2015 (United Nations, 2013).One of such is halving the poverty rate before 2015 (see figure 2).Decline in poverty came at a time when the Africa's poverty was soaring high (see figure 3).While the rate of those in poverty was increasing in the continent in Uganda the scourge of the disease was declining.Though Africa's increase in poverty have been attributed to increase in population, in addition to depleting service or infrastructural provision that is not upgraded (see figure 3).Uganda's progress in halving poverty shows government's commitment and continued political will in ensuring a safe and sustainable society, which can only be realized through the achievement of the MDGs.Therefore, the MDGs are Assessing the Global Development Agenda (Goal 1) in Uganda 617 significant stepping stones towards the realization of the broader Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Reasons for failed/unfulfilled targets and the challenges that remains
Several scenarios exist why none of the Millennium Development Goals of the year 2000 was achieved in most African countries likewise Uganda.It must be stated clearly that sequel to the introduction of the MDGs, most African countries suffered from, "military dictatorships, corruption, civil unrest and war, underdevelopment and deep poverty" (Paul, 2016), decay in the health sector, high mortality rate of the vulnerable, weakened civil society and action group, human right abuse, weak security and intelligence, gender inequalities, and an embarrassing failed neoliberal policies, which rather than provide solutions to these problems exacerbated them (SAP, Keynesian model) 131 , to weak financial strength, delayed implementation of the MDGs, and the non-consultation of these goals with the African community (Paul, 2016;Hickel, 2012;Obeng-Odoom, 2013: 151;Olamosu and Wynne, 2015;Akude, 2007). 14Since the MDGs was meant for the world poor as Jeffrey Sach puts it, then the voices of the poor should have been heard rather than the thoughts of what others want Africa to become. 15n as much as the targets for the realization of the MDGs are laudable (Desai & Potter, 2014: 71). 2 UN efforts in extending assistance at meeting these targets and goals were not roles the supra-government was meant to handle viz-a-viz independent states.This bias is increased by the progress report apportioning no blames to world leaders and the UN.
Rather the UN continued to receive the entire accolade, while apportioning the independent countries with the blames for the non-realization of the MDGs that were not met.
More so, the 2007/08 economic collapses had several effects on global economy, which resulted in shortages of government expenditure globally, resulting in several job losses all over the world including Uganda, with also some negative impact for private sector investment in the country, as that was a major target of the MDGs.

Conclusion
The gains of the Millennium Development Goals in Uganda cannot be overemphasized.
Taking into cognizance the trajectory of poverty in Uganda before the implementation of MDGs, halving poverty before 2010 shows the commitment and political will of the government of Uganda in ensuring the advancement in the standard of living for her citizens.Though, unfair maybe,16 the timing of MDGs and its gestation period for a region (Africa) oppressed and exploited for over 300 years of slavery, apartheid, colonialism, soaring inequality, deprivation, exploitation, political instability, corruption, political and social violence, ineffectual provision of service, conditional aid and development assistance, marginalization and poverty all over Africa.There is also the poor take off process, as a result of the incapability of the region to fund such course as stipulated in the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000.However, it must be emphasized that Uganda made giant strides in achieving 6 targets, while by a margin not able to achieve 5 others, which

Figure 3 :
Figure 3: Poverty inAfrica (1990Africa (  -2014)   ) forthcoming until the Gleneagles Conference in 2005 in Scotland where world leaders decided to uphold their path with a condition of trade liberalization (another trend of exploitation).As argued by Odekon, "The financial resources needed for these ambitious goals, however, proved to be enormous and industrial countries as a whole failed to allocate the funds required for the project.Five years later, at the 2005 G-8 Summit in Gleneagles in Scotland, leaders renewed their commitment to fight extreme poverty in Africa with a promise of debt relief and economic and humanitarian assistance.The fine print, however, includes conditions for such assistance, with an emphasis on trade liberalization"(Odekon, 2006: x).Hence, from 2000-2005 the continent had little or no support from world leaders to realize the goals of the MDGs.Another clear difficulty is the ambiguous, frivolous and what one may call insensitivity of the developers of the eight goals.In apportioning clear responsibilities to stakeholders in the development agenda, goals meant to be achieved by the independent states and that meant for the UN and world leaders to achieve were not clearly elucidated.Hence, with the nature of weak institutions, structures, system and capacity in Africa, it would have been wise for the developers of this noble initiative to clearly posit in fairness what currently have been submerged into the National Development Plan 2020.Moving forward, it is imperative that African countries take similar steps as Uganda, by first fulfilling the MDGs before being carried away by the euphoria of Sustainable Development Goals.In my opinion, this is not the best of moves (SDGs) considering lessons learnt from MDGs, based on ownership and consultation, awareness and participation.For development to occur and be sustained in Africa, Africans must be part of the developmental process in specifying goals, targets, and indicators.More so, localization of development agenda will further strengthen and accommodate enhancement of lives in the region.Hence the suggestion that Localising Development Goals should be rather championed to Sustainable Development Goals.This is arguably the reason behind the BREXIT, which favours the concept of Local Development Goals (LDGs) (localization to globalization).Moreover, the idea of localization is based on the ability for the country in particular to stipulate development target, which it could achieve.This as well is based on the UN Peacekeeping