Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
As an advocate for inclusive data, I urge government, regional, and global leaders to prioritize the counting and representation of all individuals, especially those on the margins.
Progress and challenges in Uganda’s population data
While Uganda has made significant progress in improving its population data, capturing the diversity of our society remains a struggle. According to the preliminary results of the 2024 Census by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda’s population has increased to 45,935,046 people from 34.8 million in 2014.
The breakdown by sex shows a slight female majority, with 23.4 million females compared to 22.5 million males. Children under 18 make up 50.5 percent of the population, while the working-age population stands at 55.6 percent, indicating a significant labor force.
Kampala remains the country’s economic hub, attracting a daily population of 627,340 visitors and boasting a resident population of 1,875,834.
Data gaps in East Africa and Africa
From an East African perspective, we face similar challenges to our neighboring countries. The East African Community has a combined population of over 200 million people, with a 3 percent average annual growth rate.
However, data gaps persist, particularly in rural areas and among marginalized communities. The situation is no different across Africa, where the population is projected to reach 2 billion by 2050, with over 60 percent of the population under the age of 25.
Shockingly, an estimated 100 million children under the age of five lack birth certificates, depriving them of access to basic services like healthcare and education. Additionally, only 44 percent of African countries have functional civil registration systems, leaving millions unaccounted for.
Globally, the situation is equally dire. The world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with an estimated 1 billion people lacking official identification.
The call by the UN Secretary-General to “count everyone” resonates deeply, highlighting the critical role of data collection in realizing human rights and sustainable development. It is vital for us to learn from best practices worldwide and support countries with limited capacity to improve their data systems.
Check also;
- UBOS Clarifies: Children Born After Census Night Excluded From Counting
- Importance Of Mothers In Answering Census Questions About Children
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg)