‘70% north people in abject poverty’
Apr 04, 2006
About 70% of the population in northern Uganda live below the poverty line, with each adult spending about sh20,000 ($11) per year, the Northern Uganda baseline Survey launched on Friday stated.
By Geresom Musamali
About 70% of the population in northern Uganda live below the poverty line, with each adult spending about sh20,000 ($11) per year, the Northern Uganda baseline Survey launched on Friday stated.
The World Bank defines absolute poverty as living on less than one dollar per day. The report covered 18 districts in West Nile, Lango, Acholi, Teso and Karamoja sub-regions.
It reveals that 69% of all household income in the region is spent on food, alcohol and tobacco, while 0.8% goes on education. Other household expenditures include 11% for rent, fuel and power, 7.6% for health and 4.4% for transport.
It revealed that 14% of people aged between six and 25 years have not had formal education and the literacy rate in the region stands at 54%, compared to the 68% national average estimated by the 2002 Uganda population and Housing Census.
State minister for northern Uganda rehabilitation Grace Akello launched the report, which will guide the Peace, Recovery and development Plan (PRDP) starting soon.
PRDP is a new initiative by the UN, World Bank and the Government to address the economic and social disparities between the north and the rest of the country.
The Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) launched the survey carried out by the uganda Bureau of Statistics.
“The availability of this information goes a long way in helping policy makers and development partners with concrete empirical data useful for the preparation of development programmes and projects,†Akello said.
NUSAF executive director Dr. Christopher Laker said the survey analysed the state of education, health, labour force characteristics, housing and household expenditure, vulnerability, welfare and community characteristics.
“The statistics are going to form a good pillar for building up the new and existing programmes,†he said.
About 70% of the population in northern Uganda live below the poverty line, with each adult spending about sh20,000 ($11) per year, the Northern Uganda baseline Survey launched on Friday stated.
The World Bank defines absolute poverty as living on less than one dollar per day. The report covered 18 districts in West Nile, Lango, Acholi, Teso and Karamoja sub-regions.
It reveals that 69% of all household income in the region is spent on food, alcohol and tobacco, while 0.8% goes on education. Other household expenditures include 11% for rent, fuel and power, 7.6% for health and 4.4% for transport.
It revealed that 14% of people aged between six and 25 years have not had formal education and the literacy rate in the region stands at 54%, compared to the 68% national average estimated by the 2002 Uganda population and Housing Census.
State minister for northern Uganda rehabilitation Grace Akello launched the report, which will guide the Peace, Recovery and development Plan (PRDP) starting soon.
PRDP is a new initiative by the UN, World Bank and the Government to address the economic and social disparities between the north and the rest of the country.
The Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) launched the survey carried out by the uganda Bureau of Statistics.
“The availability of this information goes a long way in helping policy makers and development partners with concrete empirical data useful for the preparation of development programmes and projects,†Akello said.
NUSAF executive director Dr. Christopher Laker said the survey analysed the state of education, health, labour force characteristics, housing and household expenditure, vulnerability, welfare and community characteristics.
“The statistics are going to form a good pillar for building up the new and existing programmes,†he said.