POPULATION IN UGANDA

Population refers to the total number of inhabitants in an area over a given period of time. Uganda’s population has been increasing over the years.

In 1959 Uganda had 6.5 million people, 1969 with 9.5 million people, 1980 with 12.6 million people, 1991 with 16.7 million people, 2002 with 24.6 million people and in 2015, 34.8 million people. The annual population growth rate is 3.4%and this rate varies from one district another.

The densely populated districts of Uganda include Kampala, Jinja, Masaka, Wakiso, Mbale, Kabale, Kisoro, Tororo, Mpigi, Bushenyi, etc. The sparsely populated districts in Uganda include Moyo, Kitgum, Kotido, Kaabong, Masindi, Hoima, Kiruhura, etc. the districts with moderate population in Uganda include Luwero, Gulu, Arua, Iganga, Kumi, Kasese, Kabalore, etc.

MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

Factors responsible for the population distribution in Uganda

The distribution of population in Uganda vary from one district to another due to physically, economical, historical and environmental factors, these include;

• Climate, there is a close relationship between population distribution and climate. Areas which receive heavy and reliable rainfall support successful agriculture and therefore attract dense settlement like L. Victoria crescent, Bugishu highlands, etc.

On the other hand the little rains in N.Eastern Uganda of Moroto, Kaabong, Nakapiripiriti, discourages crop growing and settlement thus sparse population.

• Soils, areas with fertile soils which are well drained support flourishing cultivation like in Mt. Elgon slopes and the shores of L. Victoria support high population densities. On the other hand the poor soils in north eastern Uganda Copt with low rainfall received are responsible for the low population.
• Altitude, this control human settlement, usually settlement stops at 2000 meters above sea level and beyond this level there is severe soil erosion and reduced oxygen with increased coldness thus low population like on slopes of Mt. Rwenzori.
• Relief, the nature of land does influence population distribution in Uganda. The gentle slopping land is easily settled than steep slopes. For instance there more people on the gentle slopes of Mt. Elgon than on the steep slopes of Mt. Rwenzori. Flat lands and valleys usually floods during rainy seasons thus discourage settlements.
• Vegetation, the dense forested areas are difficult to clear for settlement and as a result they remain sparsely populated likewise the swampy areas are water logged therefore donot attract settlement. Populations tend to concentrate in areas which are easily cleared and well drained like in Luwero and Gulu.
• Pests and diseases, areas occupied by tsetse flies like parts of Busoga and western rift valley has got low population. In addition some parts of Bugerere remained un-occupied for some time just because of pests and diseases.
• Water resource, areas with permanent water source like Kampala encourages dense population well as Ankole-Masaka dry corridor and Karamoja with semi-permanent water have got low population.
• Mineral resource factor, mining of minerals like copper and cobalt in Kilembe-Kasese, cement at Tororo, has attracted dense population.
• Economic activities, man’s activities such as mining, industry and trade has contributed to the inflow of population from other areas to the central and eastern Uganda regions of Kampala, Jinja, Tororo, Mukono, Masaka, etc. on the other hand areas like Karamoja with little economic activities have attracted less population.
• Cultural factor, the pastoral economy of cattle keeping among the Karamajongs and Hima of Ankole demand large areas of land where this activity can be carried out (transhumance). This explains why such areas are sparsely populated.
• The no man’s land created by worrying tribes in the past like between Iteso and Japadhola, Baganda and Banyoro, japadhola and Banyole, until now have low population although it is relatively increasing.
• Tribal location, areas where traditional leaders head quarters where, tend to attract a lot of population and still has maintained such high population density like Mengo in Kampala.
• Political climate, in stable areas there is population increase well as unstable political climate in an area like as it was in Gulu which encouraged out migration which resulted into low populations.
• Urbanization, towns tend to attract settlement due to better living standards of better schools, health centers, electricity, etc. This explains why Kampala, Jinja, Masaka are densely settled.

POPULATION GROWTH AND STRUCTURE

• Population growth refers to the increase in number of people of a given area while population structure refers to the characteristics of the population. The structure is in terms of sex, age, education, etc.
• Both population growth and structure affect economic activities of Uganda. Uganda experiences a high population growth rate of an average of about 3.4% per annum.
• Infant mortality is defined as the death of children less than one year of age per 1000 live birth during the same year.
• Birth rate refers to the annual number of children born per 1000 people of the population of the country.
• Death rate refers to the annual number of people who die per 1000 of the total population of a country.
• Population growth rate refers to the percentage ratio of birth rate to death rate per 1000 people.

CAUSES OF HIGH POPULATION GROWTH RATE IN UGANDA

• Very high birth rate which exceeds the death rate. The death rate is declining today because of improved medical services which has reduced infant mortality rate.
• The high infant mortality rate often forces people to frequently produces to ensure survival of at least a few, therefore there is a close relationship between survival and high birth rate.
• Values attached to children in many societies of Uganda. Parents look at children as source of labor in Kiga, wealth in Banyankole, security during old age in Baganda thus favour large families.
• Polygamy which is the act of a man marrying many wives which results into large families. This is seen mainly in Busoga, it is also reported that 33% of women in Uganda report that their husbands have got other wives.
• Early marriages, about 54% of women in Uganda marry before the age of 18 years they therefore have a long production period in which they bare many children like in Kabale.
• Education levels, there is a relationship between education and family size. The more advanced the level of education, the fewer children a couple is likely to have and vice verser.
• Income levels, poor people with less ambitions and property normally have many children well as the rich with a lot of over whelming ambitions to acquire more wealth attach little value to have children.
• Religion, some religions like Catholics encourages family development and opposes birth controls and abortion. Likewise the Muslims have a religious dogma of marrying many wives, such beliefs are characterized with many children.
• Limited family planning education and facilities especially in rural areas. Ignorance in some areas makes people to look at family planning contraceptives with a lot of fear that can prevent them from having children in future, thus more birth rates.

Problems resulting from high population growth rate

• Un-employment especially in urban areas which leads to out crop of high crime rate due to poverty, such crimes includes robbery, prostitution and theft.
• It contributes to the youthful structure of Uganda’s population. For instance the proportion of children aged from 0-17 years is estimated at 54% and this implies that there is high dependency syndrome.
• It exerts pressure on provision of basic facilities such as housing in urban centres, health, education, social transport facilities, etc and this costs a lot of money to the government.
• It results into little land per person hence land fragmentation. This results in over utilization of land leading to soil erosion and exhaustion. The low productivity of land results into absolute poverty like in Kigezi.
• Land fragmentation due to increasing population limits mechanization, reduces opportunities for employments in addition to famine.
• The increased pressure to feed the increasing population has resulted in settlement of people in marginal land, wildlife reserves and forested areas. Forests such as Mabira, Elgon forests have been encroached on leading to erosion, landslides, reduced rainfall and the general environmental degradation.
• It has resulted into rural urban migration especially by the landless and youth. This has led to rapid growth of urban centres with their associated problems such as slum growth, high crime rate, limited social services, etc.

MEASURES TO MANAGE HIGH POPULATION

• Setting up settlement schemes, this involves the transfer of people from densely populated areas to un-settled areas like as it was in resettlement of Bakiga to Kibale.
• Eradicating of tsetse flies in some areas which are infested such that people are encouraged to go and settle there like it was in Bugerere and Busoga in eastern Uganda.
• Reduction on rural urban migration to reduce on rapid population growth especially in major towns of Kampala, Masaka and Mbarara. This can be done by providing related service of urban to rural areas.
• Developing other sectors such as industry, mining, tourism, which can absorb excess population on land
• Land reclamation especially swamps so as to create room for settlement; however this should be done with care so as to avoid environmental degradation.

MERITS OF HIGH POPULATION

• It creates high potential for labour both skilled and un-skilled which can be used for economic growth.
• It stimulates industrial and agricultural development through increased labor supply and demand for goods and services.
• It leads to utilization of idle resources since there is plenty of labour.
• It makes it economical to produce power, health, water supply, education and other social facilities.
• It increases the tax base of a country used for further economic development through construction of important infrastructure.
• It provides a lot of potential for defense and security of a country.

Demerits of having low population

• It leads to under utilization of resources like land, water, minerals, forestry, etc.
• It limits the supply of labour force necessary for economic development.
• It results into market shortage and this does not provide incentives for invention and innovation.
• It results into limited development of social services like health, education, water supply, since it becomes un-economical to provide them in low population areas.
• It leads to low tax base thus less capital available for development.
• The area remains remote and inaccessible and this is a disincentive for agricultural and industrial development.
• Social and economic dependency on other countries for market, labour and other essential supplies.
• The country is liable to insecurity since the population provide less labour in the security department.