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A section of legislators say it is concerned that Uganda’s high population growth rate is exerting pressure on the economy, which in turn is affecting the quality of services.

Anthony Akol (Kilak North) also the chairperson of the African Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development at Parliament of Uganda says: “Overpopulated areas often face social and economic strains, which can contribute to the emergence of conflicts. High population densities exert pressure on infrastructure, housing, and public services, leading to inadequate access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities”.

The high population growth rate refers to the annual average rate of change of population size, for a given country, territory or geographic area, during a specified period.

“Experts from the Ministry of Water and Environment have warned that Uganda's rapid population growth, which was estimated at 47.2 million in 2022 and growing at three per cent per annum has serious implications on gender, health, environment and development. This may lead to changes in social values and cultural behaviour of the affected communities,” Akol said.  

Hon. Anthony Akol of Uganda (left), Hon. Dr. Rashid Pelpuo of Ghana, (center) and Senator Fred Outa of Kenya (right) during their engagement. (Photo by Edith Namayanja)

Akol made the remarks while hosting the President of the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (APFPD) Dr Abdul Rashid Pelpuo who doubles as an MP from Ghana over the weekend at Kolping Hotel in Bwaise, Kampala.

The aim of the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development is to exchange and co-ordinate action in support of International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to ensure parliaments assist in implementing the ICPD Agenda by adopting initiatives in population policies and harmonisation of African legislation on sexual and reproductive health and rights,

The Uganda Parliamentarians Forum on Food Security, Population and Development is a voluntary and non political undertaking for members of Parliament with a mandate to promote the advocacy and legislation on issues of Food Security, Nutrition, income generation as well as improved livelihood.

The forum provides a platform to MPs to discuss, share experiences and support activities that would enhance participation of communities in achieving sustainable development

The Programme of Action put human rights at the centre of development and called for a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights

The function was attended by Fredrick Outa the senator (Kenyan Parliament) Masur Babur, an MP from South Sudan and Elvis Morris Donkoh, an MP from parliament of Ghana.

 The team came to benchmark how Uganda is working on interventions for population and development.

Rashid Pelpuo said having large families and many children may be a primary cause of poverty, because of limited access to land and asset shortages.

Pelpuo said: “High levels of unemployment and under employment coupled with a high dependency burden may deny the countries with high growing population the potential contribution of a significant proportion of its population to national social economic development. At household level unemployment perpetuates the vicious cycle of poverty. high unemployment levels make it very difficult for some people to address their major development challenges.

 “I advise parents in different countries to have a minimal number of children, offer them good education, to become a productive population,” Pelpuo said.  

"We have people in my constituency who assume that having many children they will protect of their land," he added.

Rashid Pelpuo said the key difference between a dependent and productive population is that the dependent population does not work or contribute to the economic development of a country while the productive population works and contributes for the economic development of the country.

The team discussed ways to address urgent issues hindering Uganda's youth from attaining their full potential, especially teenage pregnancy.