The Civil Society Private Sector Forum was launched.

By Teddy Namayanja, Public Relations Officer

In a bid to further respond to the ever increasing needs and demands of the public on both human and economic rights, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative yet again launched a new partnership together with the Private Sector dubbed THE CIVIL SOCIETY PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM, to provide a platform that will foster a strategic partnership between Uganda’s Private Sector and Civil Society for the realization of sustainable development.

While Launching the Partnership on the 11^th of July 2013 at UMA Multipurpose Hall Lugogo under the Theme : THE NATIONAL BUDGET 2013/2014 : TOOL FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWEREMENT?, the Hon. Minister of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives Mr. David Wakikona stated that government was in support of the new forum because its geared towards tackling the main challenges government has been facing in the past 15 years in line with development citing poverty, inequality and environmental degradation among others.

The Minister further called for smooth collaboration of the Civil Society and Private Sector with government if the objectives of the Forum are to be realized.

Relatedly, the key note speaker Dr.Roberto Ridolfo - Head of the European Union Delegation underscored the need for the Private Sector and Civil Society to use a joint platform to reduce the scope of corruption in the country, arguing that corruption tendencies have increasingly deterred government programs thus affecting development in the country adding that, if the vice is dealt with, the donors who had earlier this financial year withdrawn their aid might reconsider their position.

The Executive Director Foundation for Human Rights Initiative also a co chair of the Forum Mr. Livingstone Sewanyana said, the forum will not compromise individual Independence of different players for the sake of accommodating others but rather focus on the common goal of improving on the livelihood of the ordinary citizen.

Dr. Maggie Kigozi Co Chair of the Forum encouraged participants to embrace the new initiative since the main themes is tackling the National Budget which affects all citizens in one way of the other.

Other Guest speakers at the event were, Mr. Kasingye Kyomugambi the Executive Director National Planning Authority, Mr. Richard Ssewakiryanga the Executive Director National NGO Forum and Mr. Gideon Badagawa the Executive Director Private Sector Foundation who all welcomed the initiative reiterating that the forum will help booster the key elements in the budget policy among others, infrastructure, Agricultural Production, Service Innovation and Accountability.

Mr. Gideon Badagawa added that the initiative will reinforce advocacy for better infrastructure, more environmentally friendly business thus boosting both local and foreign investment in the country.

Being the First of its kind in the Country, The Civil Society Private Sector Forum launch brought together over 600 participants from different walks of life majority of whom expressed commitment to the new initiative.