According to The 2014 National Population and Housing Census (Census) Uganda’s population has continued to increase rapidly over time. It increased from 9.5 million in 1969 to 24.2 million in 2002. Between 1991 and 2002 the population increased at an average annual growth rate of 3.2 percent. The provisional results from the 2014 national Population and Housing Census (NPHC) were 34.9 million. At 3% per cent growth rate per annum (2014), Uganda’s population is projected to reach 37.8 million in 2017.
Nearly half of the population is below the age of 15 years and the population structure is expected to remain youthful for the next fifteen years. The population trend described above represents several challenges to future growth and structural transformation unless serious measures are taken to convert it into a population dividend.
Literacy levels
In the Financial year 2015/16, government allocated over UGX 2 trillion to the education sector. The access to basic and secondary education has increased with enrolment rising from 8.5 million to 8.8 million pupils at primary school level; and from 1.36 million to 1.39 million students at secondary school level. Primary school level pass rates were recorded at 88.3% and pass rates for secondary schools at 91% in 2015.
The 2012/13 Uganda National Household Survey showed an overall literacy rate of 71 percent among persons aged 10 years and above. Findings reveal that men are more literate than their female counter parts with literacy rates of 77 and 65 percent respectively. A trend analysis indicates a slight increase in the literacy rate over the years for persons 10 years and above from 69 percent in 2005/06 to 71 percent in 2012/13. (Uganda Bureau of Statistics)
Ugandan health standards by Sub-Saharan Africa Standards have not improved much and a lot remains to be done. These standards take into account the following health indicators:
- Maternal mortality rate
- Access to maternal and reproductive health services
- Life expectancy
The government of Uganda has steadily increased the budget allocation to the health sector with a projection of UGX 1.866 trillion for the financial year 2016/17 compared to UGX 1.270 trillion in 2015/16 comprising 7% of the total national budget, which was below the recommended 10% as per the Abuja declaration.
Government expenditure on health reduced from 8.7% in 2013/14 to 8.5% in 2014/15 and 7% in 2015/16.
The biggest challenge in health sector is developing the required infrastructure i.e. technology, tools and staff to attend to ever growing population.
Accessibility to health facilities, medications and qualified staff are vital in transforming the health care system.
The highlights of the population of Uganda are as follows;
Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics