On 1-2 February, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) together with the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Food Security, Population and Development (UPFFSPD) conducted a study visit on population and development issues in Kampala, Uganda, targeted for parliamentarians from eight African countries (FPA Executive Members). The FPA parliamentarians held discussions with relevant government agencies, such as the National Population Council (NPC), Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), and National Planning Authority (NPA), and affirmed that legislation and national policy and strategy documents should be updated and improved based on demographic data in order to accelerate the progress on the SDGs.

The delegation also visited the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Uganda Office, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU; an IPPF Member Association), and Naguru Teenage and Health Information Centre (NTHIC), where they were briefed on their respective programmes. They also paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament and exchanged views on further development of Africa and international cooperation. Speaking at a press conference on the final day, the FPA Executive Members said they had learned a great deal from Uganda’s efforts to address population and development issues. Since driving the ICPD Agenda is crucial for Africa, they stressed the importance of strengthening existing initiatives and harmonizing African legislation at the parliamentary level, and of building capacity for parliamentarians to do so.

This programme was supported by UNFPA and Japan Trust Fund (JTF) and in cooperation with International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

■A short video clip
African Parliamentarians’ Study Visit on Population and Development: Uganda