Uganda Youthful Population

Uganda Youthful Population

1. Over 50% is under 15 years of age. The fertility rate is 7, and the growth rate is 3.2% per annum. In 30 years, the population is said to be 90 million. Only 16% use contraception.

2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC

   • high concentrations of young people increases crime and violence rates.
   • more children must be economically active
   • few employment opportunities in the formal sector but labour force is to reach 17m by 2021
   • rural-urban migration has led to a lack of housing, overcrowding and slums
   • lack of education-teenage pregnancies-drop out of school-no qualifications-further ill health-no career prospects-poverty

3. POLITICAL

   • changes needed of government funding
     • resources becoming exhausted
     • must supply sexual health education to create a stable age structure
     • need an educated generation or they will also have a high birth rate
   • no comprehensive social security policy so each individual household is responsible
   • set a target of universal primary education by 2003, but high birth rate prevented it

4. ENVIRONMENTAL

   • depletion of wetlands for resources
   • more use of marginal lands which can't sustainably support farming
   • overfarming has led to land fragmentation - decrease in soil fertility and fall in crop yields
   • degredation of environment

5. MANAGEMENT

   • encourage private sector firms to train the young and offer apprenticeships
   • ensure the next generation is educated - UGANDA VISION 2040 - sustainable age structure
   • job opportunities and flexibility
   • laws to prevent underage marriage
   • family planning schemes
   • encourage participation in government activites
   • increase the confidence of child survival by investing in healthcare