Kampala — UGANDA is finally set for its self-appraisal next month in preparation of the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Government has announced.

The peer review is a mechanism where African countries assess themselves and each other on issues like good governance.

The tool is designed to ensure that the policies of the member states conform to the New Partnership for Africa's Development, commonly known as NEPAD.

"We are now ready for the self-assessment," Omwony-Ojwok, the planning minister in charge of the process, said.

"Next month, we shall go around the country. The review will show us where we have been, where we want to go and how to get there," he told a meeting of donors.

A total of 26 African countries with 652 million people are part of the peer review programme.

Uganda is among the first six countries to be reviewed.

Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya have completed their reviews.

South Africa and Nigeria are in the process of being reviewed.

The review focuses on social development, political, economic and corporate governance.

The review was in line with the Government policies, Ojwok stressed.

"This is intended to ensure harmonisation with the on-going government programmes aimed at attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals. In Uganda, these goals are pursued through the poverty eradication action plan," Ojwok said.

On the road map, the peer review programme manager, Silvia Angey Ufoyuru, said sensitisation workshops are to be conducted nationwide. "Between April and June, we shall do field research in 12 districts including 200 expert panel interviews, 32 focus group discussions and a 1,500 person national sample survey."

She added that the technical assessment, a report and the national programme of action will be produced in July.