More Ugandans out of poverty

from New Vision

By Gerald Tenywa

THE number of Ugandans living in poverty has fallen from 38% to 31% in the last five years, a UN report has said.

It said the number was 38% in 2002-2003, which improved to 31% in 2005-2006. According to the Uganda Human Development Report, which is to be launched today, 42% of the poor people live in rural areas, with only 12% in urban areas.

The number of people living in rural areas is highest in eastern and western at 93%, followed by northern, 83%, and central, 75%.

It said poverty was least in the central region, followed by eastern. The western region came third and the north tailed. Western Uganda performed poorly because of limited safe water while northern Uganda was hit by prolonged drought, cattle rustling and armed conflict.

The report said the fall in poverty had helped Uganda achieve one Millennium Development Goal, which aims to halve the number of people without safe water. It said 68% of Ugandans now have safe water, up from 63% in 2003.

Despite the war, the report said, the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund sunk boreholes there, which improved access to safe water.

Although the average distance to a water point was one kilometre, the average time taken queuing for water was 54 minutes, double the national average.

The report also cited malnutrition, low life expectancy and high mortality to be dog the poor.