UBC AND LVRLAC SISTER ORGANISATION IN AFRICA

The functions and responsibilities of local authorities are similar, regardless of size and location in the world. The main responsibility is to cater to the well-being of its citizens and sustainable development for the benefit of present and coming generations. This has become even more obvious in the new cooperation between UBC and its sister organisation in the Victoria Lake Region in Africa. 
There is also a worldwide trend for cities and local authorities to co-operate in transborder networks. 

between UBC and LVRLAC was signed in Entebbe, Uganda. 
The visit was followed up in April 2000 by the UBC Secretary General and the UBC EU Co-ordinator in Entebbe. Concrete fields of co-operation as well as priorities were specified and a draft agreement was worked out. 
The UBC President and UBC Vice President paid a new visit shortly after that to sign the draft agreement, and now there is a solid base of priorities and possible co-operation projects.

UBC is one of the most advanced such networks and is seen as a very successful example. 
The network of local authorities around the Victoria Lake, the Lake Victoria Region Local Authority Co-operation LVRLAC. LVRLAC has 14 members from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The president, Mr Stephen Kabuye is the mayor of the city of Entebbe, Uganda. 
Sida, the Swedish International Development Authority, has asked UBC to work as consultants and support LVRLAC to develop their organisation and activities. The first contacts between UBC and LVRLAC were made during a study tour to Sweden by leading persons from LVRLAC in 1999. 
The UBC President returned the visit in November 1999 together with Mr Miko Jokinen, vice-chairman of the UBC Commission on Environment, when a preliminary agreement on co-operation

The co-operation is mainly facing the environmental problems in the Lake Victoria region, but the co-operation is also focusing on many fields of local authority activity, for example staff training. 
The next task is to prepare a list of concrete projects, based on the priorities of LVRLAC as well as the possibilities of UBC. UBC will in the near future approach member cities and ask if they have competent specialists in various areas that can engage in the co-operation. Study tours for officials and politicians from the LVRLAC member regions to the UBC secretariat and UBC member cities will also be carried out 
The UBC EU Co-ordinator will be the project leader. UBC will work on a regular consultation basis for Sida in this project, which means that all UBC costs will be more than covered by the Swedish Government.