WORLD POPULATION DAY 2020 | Leveraging Uganda’s Population Dynamics for a Resilient Future amidst COVID-19

President Museveni with the celebrants on the World Population Day 2020 at State House, Entebbe

There were many unfavourable indicators within Uganda’s population by the time the 1986 Government of Uganda came into power. However, since then, things have turned around and a number of gains have been registered.

Before 1986, there was low immunization, poor hygiene, and high rates of malnutrition, infectious diseases, and limited access to health services. All these led to high levels of sickness and death. This has been reversed and progress is being made in a number of areas:

1. Uganda’s population has increased from 14 million people in 1986 to 43 million currently. The population is projected to reach 50 million people by 2025 and 102 million by 2050;

2. Ugandans are living longer. Life expectancy in Uganda has increased by 20 years in one generation, from 43 years in 1991 to 63.3 years in 2017;

3. As a result of increased immunization against killer diseases and other pro-people programs, children are dying less. Infant mortality rate reduced from 122 per 1,000 in 1986 to 43 in 2016;

4. Government has controlled HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS prevalence has reduced from 18.5% in 1986 to 6.4% in 2016;

5. As a result of increased and improved health services, maternal mortality ratio reduced from 506 per 100,000 live births in 1986 to 336 in 2016;

6. Malaria death reduced from 20 per 100,000 in 2016 to 9.38 per 100,000 in 2017 largely due to the distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to all the families in Uganda.

7. Literacy rate (those who are able to read and write in their local language) has risen from 54% in 1991 to 75% currently;

8. The economy expanded more than ten (10) times from UGX 9.5 trillion in FY1995/96 to UGX 130 trillion in FY2019/20;

9. GDP per capita almost tripled from USD 264 in 1986 to USD 905 in FY2019/20.

10. Poverty has reduced from 56% in 1986 to 21.4% in 2017.

11. Percentage of population with access to electricity more than doubled from 11% in 2010 to 23% in 2016.

12. The total tarmac road network is 4,966 when the roads under construction are finis`hed, the total will be 7,000kms.

13. The total installed power generation capacity is 1,254.2 MW. It will soon stand at 1,767 with the commissioning of Karuma, Agago and other plants from the 60MW of 1986.