By Alfred Zacharia
Former presidents, policymakers, and development experts will gather in Uganda to review Africa’s progress on sustainable development and chart new strategies to meet the 2030 goals.
The 8th African Leadership Forum (ALF), organised by the Institute of African Leadership for Sustainable Development (UONGOZI Institute), will take place from April 7 to 8, 2025, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala under the theme “Realising Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward.”
This year’s forum comes at a critical time, just two days before the 11th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) from April 9 to 11.
The timing is seen as a deliberate effort to influence regional discussions with high-level leadership input and practical solutions.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda will officiate the opening of the event as the guest of honour. The forum is convened by Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and ALF Patron, along with Hailemariam Dessalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
Confirmed participants include former President of Tunisia, Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, and former President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, alongside senior leaders from African governments, private sector organisations, academia, and civil society.
The two-day forum aims to take stock of Africa’s performance on the SDGs, identify key challenges slowing progress, and explore practical, collaborative solutions.
The discussions will centre on four major themes: poverty eradication and economic growth, health and well-being, education and skills development, and environmental sustainability and climate action.
Although some African countries have recorded gains in sectors such as education, water access, and gender equality, many challenges persist.
These include limited financing, policy gaps, climate-related disasters, weak healthcare systems, and high youth unemployment. The forum seeks to turn these barriers into shared learning opportunities and strategies for action.
According to UONGOZI Institute, the objective is not only to reflect but also to reaffirm commitment to the SDGs and generate clear, implementable solutions.
Delegates will focus on creating partnerships and driving regional cooperation to ensure no country is left behind in the race to 2030.
The forum’s outcome statement, which will be presented at the closing session on April 8, is expected to feed into the UNECA-led regional discussions, shaping Africa’s common position on sustainable development priorities.
The UONGOZI Institute, founded in 2010 by the governments of Tanzania and Finland, plays a central role in nurturing African leadership.
Operating under the Office of the President of Tanzania, it focuses on executive education, policy dialogue, research, and technical support to build leadership that is ethical, capable, and results-driven.
With only five years remaining until the SDG deadline, the ALF 2025 offers a timely opportunity for African leaders to shift from commitments to concrete actions that will shape a more sustainable future for the continent.