The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Uganda’s latest census figures show a burgeoning young population in the East African country, which experts say is poised to drive economic growth and transformation.
KAMPALA, Uganda | Xinhua | As the world commemorates World Population Day on Thursday, Uganda’s latest census figures show a burgeoning young population in the East African country, which experts say is poised to drive economic growth and transformation.
Preliminary data released last month by the state-run Uganda Bureau of Statistics after the country’s sixth census show that there are 45.9 million people in Uganda. Of these, more than 73 percent are under the age of 30.
To harness this potential, the government needs to implement transformative reforms, according to local experts.
Fred Muhumuza, an economist and lecturer at Uganda’s Makerere University, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the country should invest in quality education, which is key to unlocking the full potential of a young population.
Pascal Muhangi, another economist and lecturer at Makerere University Business School, said the country should focus on investing in human capital to ensure a healthy and well-educated population that will foster a skilled, innovative and productive labor force.
According to the World Bank, increased government investment in education and health is needed for Uganda to reap the demographic dividend. This will ensure that the youthful workforce is healthy, skilled and well-educated to be productive and contribute to the country’s growth and transformation.
World Bank figures show that only one-third of Ugandan students complete primary education, and enrollment in secondary school has stalled at 30 percent for decades. Health coverage is 44 percent, short of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal’s Universal Health Coverage Goal of 90 percent.
Due to these gaps, a child born in Uganda today will be only 38 percent as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete education and full health, according to the World Bank.
Both Muhumuza and Muhangi argue that the country needs to bolster its export-led growth to boost foreign exchange earnings, critical for driving growth.
Muhumuza said the focus should be on regional markets instead of the traditional European and American markets, which are becoming restrictive for African products.
Lessons from China and India show that a larger population can also translate into a larger talent pool, contributing to a robust workforce and allowing countries to produce goods and services more efficiently, Muhangi said.
“A large population means a larger domestic market for goods and services due to an increase in demand. This internal market demand can drive economic activity and stimulate growth across various sectors, from retail to technology,” Muhangi said. ■
