Dear Ugandans, especially politicians here are the official numbers (as provided by @StatisticsUg): 1. Total population = 41m 2. Average family size = 4.6 persons (largest in Teso 5.9 and lowest in Kampala 3.4) 3. Popn below 18yrs = 54% 4. Urban population = 27%
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5. Net pri sch enrollment = 91% 6. Net sec sch enrollment = 27% (Highest in Kampala 52%; lowest in Acholi 7%) 7. Literacy rate = 76% (adults only 72%) 8. Popn with non-communicable diseases = 3.5% 9. Popn that abuse alcohol = 18%(highest in Karamoja 48%; lowest in Busoga 4%)
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10. Health insurance coverage = 4% (down from 5% in 2017) 11. Ugandans working (o/o working age popn) = 74% (down from 79% in 2017) 12. Agric workers = 68% (up from 64% in 2017) 13. Child labour = 28% 14. Improved water source = 79% 15. 3 in 10 Ugandans have improved toilet
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16. Connection to grid electricity = 19% (down from 22% in 2017) 17. Connection to solar = 38% (up from 18% in 2017) 18. Mobile phones = 74% 19. Radios = 32% (down from 45% in 2017) 20. Television = 19% (up from 17% in 2017) 21. Computers = 2%
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22. Internet use = 83% for social networking; 16% for business 23. HHs operating a business = 31% (down from 38% in 2017) 24. Source of capital = 81% own savings (loans from banks 0.4%) 25. HHs in subsistence economy = 39% i.e. 3.5m from 3.3m in 2017.
Source: UBOS (2021)
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@StatisticsUg releases the 2019/20 Household Survey. Although overall poverty reduced to 20.3% from 21.4% in 2017, Acholi sub-region has registered a high increase in poverty from 33% to 68%. This is huge given that the war ended 15yrs ago and the region has been growing fast.
I’m told by a colleague (top economist) from the region that in 2020 most of the Acholi was badly hit by floods that washed away huts and gardens. As a result crop harvest was very poor.
The Covid shock also impacted heavily on poverty. Pre-Covid numbers had converged back to the 2010 level of 19% but it increased to 22% during Covid, leading to an overall poverty rate of 20.3%.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Ugandan manufacturers are being crowded out of EAC market by non-tariff barriers (NTBs). From closed border with Rwanda to outright flouting of EAC CM protocol by Kenya & TZ, our manufacturers’ access to EAC market has shrunk. Thread... #SaveUGManufacturers
Kenya and TZ are blocking Ugandan exporters from accessing their markets, yet we’re in a common market. The EAC CM had started to smooth trade. When Uganda reported a trade surplus with Kenya, for the first time in 2017, Kenya resorted to NTBs. See table #SaveUGManufacturers
The figures above (in million US$) show Kenya is playing dirty lately to stop Uganda from exporting to her market. The trade balance between the two countries, that was improving, was reversed last year using NTBs (e.g. origin, standards, permits etc.). #SaveUGManufacturers
In addition to measures announced earlier, the following have been announced by President: 1. Shops selling general merchandise allowed to open provided they’re not in arcades/malls. 2. Market vendors allowed to commute from home. 1/2
3. Public transport allowed - carry half of the normal capacity wef 2nd June (when masks will be availed free of charge). Not allowed in border districts for another 21 days. 4. Boda-bodas not allowed to carry passengers. Only deliveries. 2/3
5. Bars, night clubs, salons, gyms, saunas, not allowed to open for 21 days 6. Education open for finalists (candidate classes) wef 2nd June. The rest should wait. 7. Curfew remains for another 21 days wef 21st May. 3/
I can see Western “experts” are struggling to come to terms/explain why #Africans, with our poorly equipped health systems, are not dying (at least as much as Americans & Europeans) from #Covid_19. Many think we are actually dying but underreporting. Let me hazard a few guesses.
I promised a blog on this. I will, but let me first tweet a few ideas. I think structural factors (demographics, weather, population densities and settlement pattern, levels of urbanization etc) could’ve helped Africa to limit the spread of #COVID19, at least for now. 1/
Africa’s much younger populations (median age is 20, with countries such as Uganda 15 and Niger 14) means we’re less likely to notice the virus even if it struck at community level (which it hasn’t). It hasn’t because our mobility levels are low and the virus arrived late. 2/
Africa’s obsession right now is creating jobs for young people that keep pouring into the labour markets. But the real time bomb is in a statistic leaders and policymakers seem less interested in. Few kids of the poor are transitioning to secondary school. 1/
With exception of Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, DRC and a few other countries most kids of the poor in Africa, are dropping out of school. In Uganda only 3 out of 10 kids of the poor transition from primary to secondary. 8 of 10 kids of the “rich” transition. 2/
We can’t afford to perpetuate inequality in the only opportunity equalizer - education. However much governments in Africa try to create jobs or give livelihood funds to youth and women, they won’t transform if they don’t ensure all Their citizens get educated. 3/