Fix high poverty levels in northern, eastern regions

A new report issued by the World Bank points to wide economic differences within Uganda’s population.

The report notes that poverty levels are highest in Northern and Eastern Uganda at 43.7 per cent and 245 per cent, respectively. This is in contrast to the Western region at 8.7 per cent and the Central region at 4.7 per cent.

But what is poverty? Poverty, according to the World Bank, is the lack or insufficiency of money to meet basic needs, including food, clothing and shelter.

This means that the pace at which poverty has reduced in the northern and eastern regions which have the least well-off, and marginalised population, has been much slower compared to other regions.

What we must remember is that extreme economic disparities within this country pose a great risk to its stability.

Access to basic services such as electricity and sanitation facilities remains limited, educational completion and progression remain low, and one in three Ugandan children are stunted, pointing to persistent malnutrition.

The lack of progress in these areas poses a difficult barrier to the country’s aspiration of becoming a low middle income country by 2020.

But why is poverty highest in these regions? Joblessness, lack of opportunities and poor pay cause citizens to get disgruntled as the costs of living rise to record levels.
This high economic inequality calls for a need to re-think about regional development policies in the country. In here, government should critically think about each region’s competitive advantage and how to use it to create employment.

Once people are employed, they will have the purchasing power to meet their basic needs.
Additionally, once each region has established its niche, they should be encouraged to open up their markets and trade with each other.

According to a United Nations report: “Coping with Trade Reforms,” trade contributes to reducing poverty. How? It reduces by half the proportion of people suffering from hunger and those living on less than one dollar a day.
More effort is needed to reduce vulnerability and build the resilience of individuals and communities especially in northern Uganda where poverty levels remain high due to high youth unemployment, lack of access to basic services and low economic development.

The issue: Poverty levels.
Our view: More effort is needed to reduce vulnerability and build the resilience of individuals and communities especially in northern Uganda where poverty levels remain high due to high youth unemployment, lack of access to basic services and low economic development.