Action needed on population growth
Jun 27, 2007
THE State of World Population report, launched yesterday by the UN Population Fund, is worrying. For the first time in the history of mankind, more people will be living in urban centres than in rural areas. The urban population will be a formidable army of 3.3 billion people by the year 2008, expec
THE State of World Population report, launched yesterday by the UN Population Fund, is worrying. For the first time in the history of mankind, more people will be living in urban centres than in rural areas. The urban population will be a formidable army of 3.3 billion people by the year 2008, expected to swell to five billion by 2030.
Most of the new city-dwellers will be in developing countries. The highest surge is expected in Africa, where urban citizens will more than double between 2000 and 2030.
Uganda’s urban population might still be small compared to many other African countries, but our cities are growing by the day. Only 600,000 Ugandans lived in towns in 1969. Two generations later, this has risen to 3.7 million.
Not only does the percentage of people living in urban centres go up, Uganda’s population as a whole is increasing at an alarming rate. With an annual population growth of 3.6%, it is the second highest in the world. By 2050, the population will stand at almost 130 million. Supposedly 5% of the total population would live in the capital, as is the case today, Kampala would soar to 6.5 million people.
“The Government is aware that Uganda’s high population growth, if not planned for, can undermine the socio-economic progress that Uganda may have achieved,†warned minister Omara Atubo at the launch of the report.
Job creation might be the biggest challenge. An estimated 390,000 job-seekers are entering the labour market each year for only 8,120 jobs available, said Deputy Premier Henry Kajura recently. Youth unemployment risks leading to more crime and social unrest, as has already been evident in recent demonstrations.
Uganda urgently needs to take urban planning seriously, not only of Kampala but also of the smaller towns up-country. It should agree on which areas to gazette for housing, industries and which to preserve as green belts. It should also plan for tomorrow’s garbage collection, water and sanitation provision as well as traffic and mobility.
It might take a leaf from neighbouring Rwanda, which has not only built huge housing estates for its urban poor, but is also advocating for smaller, healthier and better educated families of three children each.
Most of the new city-dwellers will be in developing countries. The highest surge is expected in Africa, where urban citizens will more than double between 2000 and 2030.
Uganda’s urban population might still be small compared to many other African countries, but our cities are growing by the day. Only 600,000 Ugandans lived in towns in 1969. Two generations later, this has risen to 3.7 million.
Not only does the percentage of people living in urban centres go up, Uganda’s population as a whole is increasing at an alarming rate. With an annual population growth of 3.6%, it is the second highest in the world. By 2050, the population will stand at almost 130 million. Supposedly 5% of the total population would live in the capital, as is the case today, Kampala would soar to 6.5 million people.
“The Government is aware that Uganda’s high population growth, if not planned for, can undermine the socio-economic progress that Uganda may have achieved,†warned minister Omara Atubo at the launch of the report.
Job creation might be the biggest challenge. An estimated 390,000 job-seekers are entering the labour market each year for only 8,120 jobs available, said Deputy Premier Henry Kajura recently. Youth unemployment risks leading to more crime and social unrest, as has already been evident in recent demonstrations.
Uganda urgently needs to take urban planning seriously, not only of Kampala but also of the smaller towns up-country. It should agree on which areas to gazette for housing, industries and which to preserve as green belts. It should also plan for tomorrow’s garbage collection, water and sanitation provision as well as traffic and mobility.
It might take a leaf from neighbouring Rwanda, which has not only built huge housing estates for its urban poor, but is also advocating for smaller, healthier and better educated families of three children each.