New data shows that one in six Ugandans lives below the poverty line today. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics found that 7.3 million people earn less than $1 daily. Rural areas face much harder times, with 5.3 million poor people compared to 1.7 million in cities. The Karamoja region suffers most, with almost a million residents struggling for basic needs. The capital Kampala sees the least poverty nationwide.
Children bear heavy burdens, as 4.2 million youngsters grow up poor across the country. Girl children account for more than 900,000 of these numbers, while boys make up about 738,000 of the poor youth. Rural areas hold twice as many poor children as urban places, which worries experts about future development prospects.
Uganda has made progress over three decades. The poverty rate fell from 56 percent in the early 1990s to 16 percent today. Income gaps between the rich and the poor have narrowed recently. Northern areas showed the biggest improvements in equality. Government leaders face pressure to spread growth benefits more evenly across all regions.
Children bear heavy burdens, as 4.2 million youngsters grow up poor across the country. Girl children account for more than 900,000 of these numbers, while boys make up about 738,000 of the poor youth. Rural areas hold twice as many poor children as urban places, which worries experts about future development prospects.
Uganda has made progress over three decades. The poverty rate fell from 56 percent in the early 1990s to 16 percent today. Income gaps between the rich and the poor have narrowed recently. Northern areas showed the biggest improvements in equality. Government leaders face pressure to spread growth benefits more evenly across all regions.
