By Spy Uganda:
Kampala: Today Uganda has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Population Day of this year under the theme, “Leveraging Uganda’s Population Dynamics for a Resilient Future amidst COVID-19” is very timely.
In his televised address President Museveni said that Uganda’s young population aged 0 – 14 years is 47.9% and those below 30 years are 78%, whom he commended for their fight towards COVID-19 better than the more elderly population.
President said government will continue to provide these young people with education, skills, jobs and health care so that they can be gainfully employed, save and invest so that they become the engine of economic growth.
In regard to youth health and infectious diseases, Museveni said before 1986, there was low immunization, poor hygiene, high rates of malnutrition, infectious diseases, limited access to health services that led to high levels of sickness and death.
However since he came in leadership, government has since reversed all this and the country is making progress in a number of areas.
According to President Museveni:
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, our children are dying less. Infant mortality rate reduced from 122 per 1,000 in 1986 to 43 in 2016
4.We have 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 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 UGX9.5 trillion in FY1995/96 to UGX130 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 and when the roads under construction are finished, 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.
