Uganda’s population trends must promote development
Jul 14, 2010
Recently, Uganda joined the world to commemorate World Population Day, a day aimed at increasing awareness on population issues and their influence on development.
Recently, Uganda joined the world to commemorate World Population Day, a day aimed at increasing awareness on population issues and their influence on development.
This year, the focus was on population quality. A quality population is one that contributes to economic growth and development of a country; the health, education, productivity of the people matter.
With more than half of Uganda’s population below 18 years, we have a young population like most developing countries.
The quality of our population is definitely poor given the proportion of the people that are dependant. A high population is good if well educated and productive. Many people are unproductive and depend on the natural resources whose depletion is continuous.
Most of Uganda’s population lives in rural areas which makes us one of the least urbanised countries in Africa. Despite technological advancement, most of the people are not able to use bio-gas or solar power, instead majority use firewood for cooking and ‘tadooba’ (local paraffin lamp) for light.
The settlement pattern has significant influence on the quality of the population. The number of people per square kilometre matters and this is why Uganda’s population density puts it among the most crowded in Africa.
An example is Mt Elgon forest where population is taking its toll. In Manafwa district, Kabulota sub-county, lies Kyibainga hill on the periphery of Mt Elgon, whose ground is degraded.
The people there have depended on the hill for firewood and crop cultivation for many generations. Before the apparent state, the hill had a cool and wet climate with vegetation and many trees. But excess increase in the inhabitants that cultivate this 10-acre hill led to reckless tree cutting and cultivation. The climate changed to prolonged drought which has affected the people’s livelihood and quality of the population. In places like this, community sensitisation on planting more trees, protecting the trees and good farming methods should be scaled up.
While general statements may be made about Uganda as a whole, they often mask major regional differences related to cultural and ecological characteristics.
We have four main language groups with several sub-divisions and the Bantu inhabit the more fertile and earlier developed part of the county, while the other groups are found in the drier north.
By most development parameters, the north compares less favourably with the others. Access to schools, health units, utility services, employment and industrial development are lower in the north. Considering this year’s theme “Plan for a quality population because everyone countsâ€, planners should consider factors like social organisation and regional distinctions because strengthening policies that favour equitable resource allocation is paramount.
It is true that high population can be an asset. However, we need to study Uganda’s population patterns and trends so that we do not promote numbers alone like some leaders do, but also advocate quality. Imposition of a child birth ceiling like it is in China may not be practical for Uganda today. At 41%, Uganda’s unmet need for family planning is the third — highest in the world.
We need a comprehensive communication strategy and more funding to scale up countrywide sensitisation and availability of family planning services. Communications should strategically bring out key population and development concerns.
This year, the focus was on population quality. A quality population is one that contributes to economic growth and development of a country; the health, education, productivity of the people matter.
With more than half of Uganda’s population below 18 years, we have a young population like most developing countries.
The quality of our population is definitely poor given the proportion of the people that are dependant. A high population is good if well educated and productive. Many people are unproductive and depend on the natural resources whose depletion is continuous.
Most of Uganda’s population lives in rural areas which makes us one of the least urbanised countries in Africa. Despite technological advancement, most of the people are not able to use bio-gas or solar power, instead majority use firewood for cooking and ‘tadooba’ (local paraffin lamp) for light.
The settlement pattern has significant influence on the quality of the population. The number of people per square kilometre matters and this is why Uganda’s population density puts it among the most crowded in Africa.
An example is Mt Elgon forest where population is taking its toll. In Manafwa district, Kabulota sub-county, lies Kyibainga hill on the periphery of Mt Elgon, whose ground is degraded.
The people there have depended on the hill for firewood and crop cultivation for many generations. Before the apparent state, the hill had a cool and wet climate with vegetation and many trees. But excess increase in the inhabitants that cultivate this 10-acre hill led to reckless tree cutting and cultivation. The climate changed to prolonged drought which has affected the people’s livelihood and quality of the population. In places like this, community sensitisation on planting more trees, protecting the trees and good farming methods should be scaled up.
While general statements may be made about Uganda as a whole, they often mask major regional differences related to cultural and ecological characteristics.
We have four main language groups with several sub-divisions and the Bantu inhabit the more fertile and earlier developed part of the county, while the other groups are found in the drier north.
By most development parameters, the north compares less favourably with the others. Access to schools, health units, utility services, employment and industrial development are lower in the north. Considering this year’s theme “Plan for a quality population because everyone countsâ€, planners should consider factors like social organisation and regional distinctions because strengthening policies that favour equitable resource allocation is paramount.
It is true that high population can be an asset. However, we need to study Uganda’s population patterns and trends so that we do not promote numbers alone like some leaders do, but also advocate quality. Imposition of a child birth ceiling like it is in China may not be practical for Uganda today. At 41%, Uganda’s unmet need for family planning is the third — highest in the world.
We need a comprehensive communication strategy and more funding to scale up countrywide sensitisation and availability of family planning services. Communications should strategically bring out key population and development concerns.